Ex Libris 
 C. K. OGDEN
 
 
 From a Pen and Ink Drawing after a Photograph.
 
 STOKES'S 
 EAPID WEI TING, 
 
 FOR EAPIDLY TEACHING TO WEITE, 
 
 AND 
 
 FOR TEACHING TO WRITE RAPIDLY. 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM STOKES; 
 
 TEACHEE OF MEMOKT, 
 LECTURER AT THE ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION, LONDON, 
 
 OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE UNITERSITIES, 
 
 OriYSTAL PALACE SCHOOL OF ART, SCIENCE, AND LITERATURE; 
 
 PROFESSOR OF MEMORY AT THE CITY OF LONDON COLLEGE ; 
 
 LATE OF THE ROYAL COLOSSEUM; 
 
 AriHOE OP 
 
 "stokes OTT memory," " THE DITIITK OEIGUr OF SnTElTOiriCS," 
 
 "the STLLABLEIZBD pictorial alphabet," " EAPID PLAK 
 
 OF TEACHIXG EEADING," " ANTI-NOXSEKSICAL 
 
 ICUKSEET EHYilES (iX "WOEDS OF OXB 
 
 BTI.LABLE)," " MESrOBT SONGS," 
 
 ETC. 
 
 IXVEKTOB OF 
 "the PICTOEIAL MrLTIPLICATIOK TABLE," " TTTE HISTOBICAL 
 CHBOXOilETEK," "thE MXEilONICAL Gl OBE," 
 "the TXPOGBAM," ETC. 
 
 TWENTY-FOURTH EDITION 
 
 LONDON : 
 HOULSTON & SONS, 7, PATERNOSTER BTTILDINGS; 
 
 ALL BOOKSELLBES AND THB BAILWAT STATIONS, 
 
 AUSTRALIA: 
 
 GEORGE ROBERTSON, Mblboubne, Stditbt, ajtd ADBiArDB, 
 
 1864.
 
 ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL. 
 
 Eutlar 4 Tanner, Tho Selwood Prlutiug Worki, Frome. and London.
 
 PKEFACE. 
 
 So ranch has been written upon "Writing," so many 
 admirable Copy Books can be had, so many people 
 can write, and so many teach Writing, that possibly 
 the desirability of producing this little Book might 
 generally be considered a discussable point. I trust, 
 however, that the verdict of the Public will be in its 
 favour, and that it may prove of service to heads, 
 hearts, and hands innumerable. 
 
 The Public, familiar with *' Stokes on Memory," 
 knowing Memory to be my forte, have occasionally 
 expressed surprise that I should become the advocate 
 and exponent of the Art of Writing ; but it was 
 because I had adapted the Art of Memory to the 
 Art of Writing, that I resolved to go into print upon 
 it. Those who appreciate my rarious Memory Aid- 
 ing Works, will, 1 am sure, have keen zest for this ^ 
 while others unacquainted with the benefits derivable 
 from the Art of Memory, will I hope find sufficient 
 Illustrations of its utility in this little production to 
 convince them that it is simple, powerful, practical, 
 and worthy of their further consideration. The 
 perusal of '' Stokes on Memory " in conjunction with 
 this, will prove of great advantage to all. 
 
 Lest I should receive credit that is not my due, 
 I wish most gratefully to acknowledge that I am 
 indebted to others for a great deal that is valuable 
 in this Book. It will be seen at a glance that much 
 time, labour, and expense have been bestowed upon 
 
 A 2
 
 it ; but some curious facts which would not be 
 apparent, may with advantage be pointed out. If 
 the Authors that I have consulted upon the subject 
 lived upon an average only thirty years each, their 
 united ages would considerably exceed the time from 
 the Creation to the present date. Their Works, which 
 I have carefully gone over, weigh several hundred- 
 weight, and the cost of their engraved lUustratious 
 alone, must have amounted to many thousands of 
 Pounds. These Works embrace some of the choicest 
 that the World has ever known, by the best Penmen, 
 and most able teachers, and they have proved of 
 inestimable value to Millions of the human race ! 
 Some of the Works in my possession are massive and 
 costly, and have been of more indirect than direct 
 benefit to the World at large, as they are very 
 unwieldy, and were published at several Guineas 
 each. By availing myself of the advantages afforded 
 by Dallastype, I am enabled to Tpreseutfac- similes 
 of Illustrations from the various Works to which I 
 have alluded, and to add others which were never 
 before seen, many of which were executed at my 
 suggestion, expressly for this treatise, by some of 
 the most eminent Penmen of the day. 
 
 Dallastype is the beautiful and valuable invention 
 of Mr. Duncan C. Dallas, 362, Gray's Inn Road, 
 London, W.C. It is a kind of Metallic Photography, 
 by which Writing, Printing, Pictures, etc., can be 
 reproduced of the original size, or can be reduced or 
 enlarged at pleasure. Many of the specimens here 
 given are reductions, which may be seen with ad- 
 vantage through a powerful Magnifying Glass. 
 
 I am glad to be able to save from oblivion many 
 worthy efforts of the past, to present fresh products 
 of the present, and I trust to stimulate high endea- 
 vours for the future.
 
 T heartily thank all those who have so kindiy 
 assisted me in the production of this Book. 
 
 Special acknowledgment is due to my esteemed 
 triend, Mr, John A. Fowler, of Brighton, for tlie 
 'ixhaustless patience and great ability with which 
 he has assisted me; and to Mr. Dallas, for the 
 more than business pains he has taken in producing 
 the Engravings. 
 
 I am greatly obliged to many of my Pupils for 
 the able, kind, and energetic manner in which they 
 liave both privately and publicly testified and illus- 
 trated the advantages they have derived from my 
 ^Memory Lessons. They have done their best to 
 further my interests, have relieved me of much un- 
 necessary toil and anxiety, and have enabled me to 
 accomplish that which otherwise I never could have 
 attempted, I have therefore spared neither care nor 
 cash in bringing out this little treatise; and I have the 
 pleasure of knowing that I have thousands of friends 
 .ind sympathisers in various parts of the World, who 
 will appreciate and make known this absurdly good 
 change for a Shilling I 
 
 WILLIAM STOKES, 
 
 Teacher of Memory. 
 
 15, Margaret Street, 
 Cavendish Square, 
 London', W. 
 
 September 1st, 1873. 
 
 PREFACE TO THE TWENTY-FOUPtTH 
 EDITION. 
 
 The Press and the Pu'dic have alike recommen- 
 ded this book, for which I am much obliged. Un- 
 fortunately the supply could not keep pace with the 
 demand ; but any number may now be had at short 
 notice. More Agents are required. Particulars od 
 application. See page 149. W^. S. 
 
 a3
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Iw this Book npou Writing you quickly mil find 
 
 Suggestions for guiding the hand and the mind; 
 
 In fact, you will see at a glance, I have planned 
 
 For first guiding the mind, and then guiding the hand. 
 
 fexperience shows us that little good comes 
 
 ^rom simply appealing to fingers and thumbs ; 
 
 I therefore prefer to take rather more pains, 
 
 And present a few hints for intelligent brains. 
 
 And as some folks with brain are not over supplied, 
 
 I have given such hints as most surely must guide 
 
 Those of meanest capacity — owners of skull — 
 
 The "thick-headed" — "the sleepy" — "the slow," and 
 
 «*the dull;" 
 For I have an idea, — and I think I am right, — 
 That in all such as these, there exists out of sight 
 Of the vulgar who sneer, and who give these mean names, 
 The spark, and the fuel, which might produce flames 
 Of lively intelligence ; and it may be 
 If the spark were but fanned, such a blaze we might see, 
 As might startle the namers, and cause them surprise, 
 And warm them, or scorch them, or dazzle their eyes ! 
 It frequently happens with those harshly named, 
 That the teacher should more than the learner be blamed ; 
 The nominal " teacher" may be a retarder. 
 Making easy things hard, and hard things much harder. 
 Such teachers as these have the world been affrighting, 
 Quite scaring away from the efTort of writing, 
 And thus with our boasted intelligence — shame. 
 There are thousands of men cannot lorite tlieir oxonname: 
 But heed well these hints, it shall be in your power 
 To teach this in less than the fourth of an hour I
 
 I value thoroughly those noble men, 
 
 And women, too, who've laboured ; that the Pen 
 
 Might -with more pleasure, power, and skill, 
 
 Be made subservient to the human will. 
 
 Some have well hit the mark at which they aimed ; 
 
 Let these with gratitude be ever named. 
 
 To each who now a helping hand will lend, 
 
 I say, "Best thanks, esteemed, though unknown friend I ' 
 
 To show how Memort plays her part 
 In reference to the Writing Art, 
 
 Will be my aim ; 
 Important facts too oft passed by 
 With carelessness, with care I'U try 
 
 In a few words to name ! 
 
 Each Keader will get many a hint 
 Which ne^er before appeared in print; 
 
 And many a small suggestion 
 Presented in an easy way. 
 Which benefit the Memory, may 
 
 Without the slightest question ! 
 
 Each practised writer here will find 
 Old truths which oft will strike his mind 
 
 As worthy of attention ; 
 While those tvho never wrote before 
 Will do so now ! enough ! no more 
 
 I here have need to mention, 
 
 Except to say that I have planned 
 For forming every kind of hand — 
 That is, each style that's pure : 
 And all will find suggestions here 
 For writing in a way that's clear 
 With choicest Pen, or skewer ! 
 None with skewer writing shall grow furious, 
 They'll say it's ;plain, although it* curious /
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 Pen-and-ink Portrait of the Author — Preface— In- 
 troduction, in Ebyme — Table of Contents — A 
 suggestion, with Ehymes, See page 147. ... 1 
 
 THE ART OF RAPIDLY TEACHING WPJTINa, 
 
 with Mnemonical Burlesque Rhyme — Position 
 of the Body, with Rhyme — How to hold the 
 Pen, with Engravings and Rhyme — Pen and Ink 
 Sketch: Boys Writing at School — Engraving; 
 Writer, by G. Terburg — Engraving ; Writers, 
 from " Bickham's Universal Penman " — Ele- 
 mentary Writing Movements, with Mnemonic — 
 Movements of the Fingers, etc., with Rhyme — 
 Characteristics of good Penmanship, with 
 Mnemonic — Caligraphy and Chirography — 
 Stokes's Mnemonicatj Golden Rule for 
 Writing, in Rhyme. Form, inclination, and 
 distance of letters — Height of the Letters, 
 etc., with Mnemonics — Diagram showing the 
 proportions of the Small Letters — Diagram 
 showing the proportions of the Large Letters — 
 Engravings of Formal, Free, and Business 
 Writing — Stokes's Alphabetical Copy Head In- 
 structions for Writing 14 
 
 HOW TO WRITE RAPIDLY. Writing from one's 
 own mind, from *' Copy," and from dictation — 
 How to write without lifting the Pen, 
 with Mnemonics and Engraving — Special Free 
 Hand Exercises, with Engraving — Tlie Hori- 
 zontal Zig-zag, with Engraving, showing the 
 small alphabet upon it — Practice Penmanship
 
 P1X» 
 ON Printed Papkr — a hint on economia teach- 
 ing, etc., with Engraving — Short Alphabetical 
 Exercises — Engravings — " Penmanship " in 
 various Styles — 1-4 pages of specimens ... 44 
 
 THE HISTORY OF WRITING— Engraved speci- 
 mens of Early Writing — Egyptian Hieroglyphics, 
 Alphabet, and Numbers, v?ith Engraving — 
 Finnow's astonishment at Writing — Nature of 
 Chinese Writing — Engraving : Chinaman Writ- 
 ing — Various materials used for Writing — 
 Various processes f'or producing Writing — The 
 Writing alluded to in Scripture and Ancient 
 History — Description of ancient "letter," 
 "book," "style," etc. — St. Augustine and 
 Writing ; the Clergy and Writing ; Charlemagne 
 and Writing — Few Writers about 1500 — Mr. 
 Alfred Hole — "New" Systems of Writing, 
 AND THE Old Writing Masters — Ecugraving : 
 John Davies of Hereford — Mr. Edward Edwards 
 — Engraving of Celebrated Writers .... 70 
 
 ODE TO THE PEN! 85 
 
 THE ART OP USING WRITING.— When to use 
 Writing— Hindrances to Writing — Facilities for 
 Writing — Neglect of Writing — Writing and 
 Business — Assistance in Writing very generally 
 required. — " Ready Writers " wanted : a practical 
 suggestion — Engraving : the Letter Writer, 
 Seville — A few hints on Letter Writing, 
 with Rhymes — When to use Capitals, with 
 Rhyme, and prose Acrostic — Pointers, with 
 Engravings, — Pens, Ink, Paper, etc. — Song of 
 the unprepared Writer — Make a List ; with 
 Rhyme — Various styles of Writing, with 
 list of One Hundred 100 
 
 MICROSCOPIC, LARGE, AND PECULIAR WRIT- 
 ING — Peter Bales — Matthew Buchinger, th©
 
 10 
 
 PAQB 
 
 Handless Microscopic Writer, with very curious 
 Portrait — Mr. John Cutten ; Engraving of the 
 Lord's Prayer, etc. — Engraving: "Vive la 
 Plume " — Monogram of the Entire Alphabet — 
 Monogram : " William Stokes " — Rapid Pen- 
 manship, with Engravings — Engraving of Ela- 
 borate Penmanship, executed with one Steel 
 Pen — How to cut a Quill, with Engravings 
 — Ornamental Wbiting, with Engravings — 
 WRiTiNa IN relation to Drawing, with 
 Engravings — Pen Printing, with Engraving — 
 Flourishing, with 2G pages of Illustrations — 
 
 How TO MAKE THE FLOURISHED MeN, BiRDS, 
 
 Animals, Fishes, etc.— Brush Writing, etc. 112 
 
 WHITING MUSIC, with Engraved Illustration, in 
 Old and Tonic Sol-Fa Notation— Song : The 
 Engine Driver — Ladies' Hand, with 4 pages of 
 Engravings, and Khymes — Legal Handwriting, 
 " Engrossing," etc., with 2 pages of Engravings, 
 and Mnemonics — Civil Service Writing, with 
 Engravings — Engraving ; text containing all the 
 alphabet — Engraving of plain, bold, rapid, and 
 continuous style of Writing — Average Speed, 
 with Engravings ; Boy Secretary's Hand ; 
 Entering Clerk's Hand ; Ledger Clerk's 
 Hand, 2 pages, with Rhymes ; Facsimile of the 
 Author's ordinary Rapid Writing — Autographs. 
 — Autograph Albums, etc. — Likenesses and Auto- 
 graphs of Charles I. — Likeness and Autographs 
 of Oliver Croniwe.]]— P\acsimile of the Warrant 
 for Beheading King Charles I. — Writing undeb 
 DimcuLTiKS — How to Write in a Train, with 
 Engravings — How to Write on Board Ship — How 
 to write witli a Skewer, or with Thumb Nail, with 
 Engravings — How to Write with the Left 
 Hand, with Engravings — Specimens of Nelson's 
 Writing before and after he lost his Right Arm 
 —How to make a Paper Holder for Left-Hand
 
 11 
 
 Writera — How those may Write who have no 
 
 Arms — How to Write with both hands at once 
 — How to Write in the dark — How the Blind 
 MAY Wrixe — How to make a Writing Guide for 
 the Blind — Value of Writing to the Deaf and 
 Dumb — How to teach the Deaf and Dumb 
 TO Write — Typographical Makes, etc. — How 
 to prepare a Manuscript for the Press, 
 with 4 pages of Engravings, etc., showing 
 Typographical Marks and Corrections — What to 
 write to guide the Printer, etc 162 
 
 WPilTING AN AID TO CONCENTEATION, PER- 
 CEPTION, AND MEMORY, with Rhyme— 
 Writing, Memory, and Mnemonics — Combined 
 Writing and Spelling Exercises — Mnemonics 
 may be used with great advantage for Spelling 
 — Imperfect Writing and bad spelling — An 
 Ap(e) -PALLING Warning, in Rhyme — Combined 
 
 VoCiBULARY AND WRITING ExEBCISES Palm 
 
 and Finger Writing Exercises — Mental Writ- 
 ING Exercises, with Rhyme — Musical Writing 
 Exercises — Poetical Writing Exercises — Writing 
 and Speech, with Rhyme, A Mother's Infer- 
 ence ! — A Mystery Solved, in Rhyme — An In- 
 comprehensible Proposal — Write a Clear Hand, 
 Rhyme in Words of One Syllable — A Hint — 
 Writing and Love — Cupid's Puns on Pens, 
 Ink, and Paper ! in Rhyme — A Pathetic 
 Ballad — Teachers of Writing — Persevere, with 
 Rhyme —Writing Contests — Prizes — Specimens 
 of Writing, etc. — Stokes on Memory at the 
 Polytechnic — Correspondence Memory Lessons 
 — Memory Writing Lessons — Memory Short- 
 hand Lessons — Various Supplementary Lessons 
 — Stokesian Schools — Stokesian Series of 
 Memory Aiding Works, etc. — Active Agents 
 wanted Everywhere — Prophetic, in Rhyme — 
 Help, with Rhjmes — Shakeipeare and Writing —
 
 12 
 
 FAGB 
 
 Propagation of Stokes's System of Memory — 
 A Dream of Death, in Khyme — To-day ! in 
 Khyme — Stokesian Institute of Memory — 
 Volunteer Honorary Helpers — Annual Sub- 
 scribers — To friends of Education, etc., with 
 Ehymes — Quadruple Acrostic, Stokes — Value 
 of the Memory Hints in this Book, etc. . . . 203 
 
 Royal Polytechnic Institution ; Time of Mr. Stokes's 
 Memory Lectures, Classes at Residence, etc. — 
 Stokes's System of Memory, its diversified 
 application — How, when, and where it can be 
 learnt — Quotations from Reports, Critiques of 
 the Press, etc. — Testimonials — Extracts from 
 Letters from Correspondence Pupils — Quo- 
 tations from Dublin Review — Resolutions 
 passed at Manchester, etc. — Memory-Aiding 
 Writing Lessons— Pen and Ink Likeness of 
 Mr. Dixon, the Celebrated Calif ornian Pen- 
 man — Flourish by Mr. Dixon — Stammering, 
 etc. — Mr. Stokes's Certificate from Interna- 
 tional Exhibition— List of Work«, etc. by Mr. 
 Stokes. See page 147 230 
 
 COMPLETE ALPHABETS, LARGE AND SMALL. 
 
 1. Approved Scale 86 and 35 
 
 2. Very legible, rather slow 40 
 
 3. Very legible, moderately quick 41 
 
 4. Very legible, rapid 42 
 
 5. Without lifting the pen 47 
 
 6. Ladies' Angular Hand 1(0 
 
 7. Ladies' Semi-Angular Hand ](;7 
 
 8. Lawyer's Hand 171 
 
 9. Engrossing 17'2 
 
 10. Civil Service Hand 177
 
 13 
 
 A SUGGESTION. 
 
 If you feel so disposed, write two copies of the first 
 of the two following Ehymes in jGnr ordinary style, 
 immediately, adding your name, address, and the 
 date. Preserve one copy, and post the other to me, 
 addressed to Mr. Stokes, 15, Margaret Street, Caven- 
 dish Square, London, W. ; and after you have gone 
 through the Book and have applied its principles, 
 write two copies of the second Rhyme, adding your 
 name and address, and the date. Preserve one copy, 
 and post the other to me at the above address. This 
 may serve to stimulate effort, upon your part, and 
 may be of service to myself. Your name and ad- 
 dress will not be made known to anybody without 
 your permission. I am constantly receiving testi- 
 mony,which is most encouraging to me from Cor- 
 lespondence Pupils and others, but I never give the 
 pupils' names or addresses without permission. Tes- 
 timonials are always welcome. 
 
 This is the style in which I write, 
 Before your Writing-aids I test ; 
 
 When I have tried them, with delight 
 I'll write again, as you suggest. 
 
 Name in full. 
 Address in full, 
 Date, 
 
 In gratitude, dear Mr. Stokes, 
 To you this Eliyme I send, 
 Showing that with far better strokes, 
 Through your aid I have penned. 
 If this small verse you ne'er had viewed, 
 It would have been ingratitude : 
 Name in full. 
 Address in full, 
 Date, 
 
 The second letter should be sent, if possible, within a ruic- 
 night from the first. 
 
 B
 
 14, 
 
 THE ART OF RAPIDLY TEACHING 
 WRITING. 
 
 To those who do not understand Writing, it ap- 
 pears to contain such a multiplicity of intricacies 
 that the mastery of the art seems to be a most for- 
 midable matter. Those who cannot write, often ex- 
 press the belief that they have neither the skill, the 
 comprehension, nor the time required for it. This 
 impression, though thoroughly erroneous, will prevent 
 any attempt in the right direction. I therefore en- 
 deavour to destroy it immediately : first, by enabling 
 the learner to perceive that the forms used in writing 
 are very few and very simple, and by fixing them 
 indelibly on his Memory ; second, by proving to him 
 by his own instantaneous performance, that he can 
 make them legibly ; third, by impressing upon his 
 Memory the fact that, as he can remember all the 
 forms, and can make them, he can write; the proper 
 practice being easy, costing nothing ; and being such 
 as can be had at odd moments, without occupying 
 special time, or interfering with ordinary duties. 
 
 I can generally teach a person to write his name 
 in full — Christian name and Surname, legibly — so 
 that his signature should be valid in any Court of 
 Justice, in less than fifteen minutes. This is not 
 invariably the case, as the name may sometimes be 
 very long, or may contain an unusually difficult com- 
 bination of letters ; but it often happens on the other 
 hand that the name is short and easy, and I can then 
 sometimes manage to teach the learner to write 
 " Paid," or " Paid " and the Date, in addition to the 
 name, within the fifteen minutes. I suit my sugges- 
 tions to the name and characteristics of each learner ; 
 but the leading principle of aiding the Memory by 
 the Association of Ideas, will be found in the 
 following : —
 
 15 
 
 
 
 Use a Magnifj-insr Glass for these Rhymes if necessary. They 
 are Dallastype reductions just one-quarter the original size. 
 
 B 2
 
 16 
 
 
 «S^ 
 
 
 
 >^«.%4S>>;'l2<#»:*«^.r^<C<a5«?< 
 
 
 ^/..^isi^j^rv-i^c 
 
 tyy^C'd^.'i:^^-^^^^, -^Jeissii^^^/f^^ ^!^ eai-ey^y^<^^.t*ir-j ^<:A-^ y 
 
 >^
 
 17 
 
 
 tcXz^ /OC ^/r<^A/J^z^^ ^Ci^tn^^ 
 
 J^aii^f'/Zi/i^f/fa'^i^i.'&i!^^ 
 
 
 cx^i««^^«i^»w^^-i^^ cy^!^^/f>^jg<i^.^i^i^<i^c.^^i^. 
 
 The above is a very simple, legible kind of writing, from 
 which the learner can glide into a more ornamental style. 
 
 B 3
 
 18 
 
 «=xi/.=£::^/:?^'Z5=-^ a:^^y<;^<a:/.^<it^yif^ :^.s>^iy^ 
 
 c^^ y^^^pz^^^^^a^^. 
 
 OC'^S^^^^CaU^^^ ^...if^^-Z^zy/y.^i^Si^^^ ^.svii-^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 ir^i5'<i'z-«si'a^*^ise'*5^''i^^5 
 
 z^'^z^a^^z^^err^. 
 
 :^^Sfe»5'^i>-S<2^; 7PZtli/^^£-£^ ^^»^/^i!5*>«<!a5^-/>^!<«<i/i ^ '-^ _/ 
 
 ^<c;-3' <^,»2<^ (/J^,^i:^£sy^'^.at4^^W^^^^ 

 
 19 
 
 

 
 20 
 
 Many Teachers of Writing in bygone days, and of 
 the present time, have expressed a horror of the idea 
 of any departure from the preliminary practice of 
 pot-hooks and hangers, which practice some would 
 continue for months before allowing the formation 
 of a letter. They assert that nobody can reasonably 
 hope to become a good writer without such training 
 of the hand, which is a mistake ; and they contend 
 that everybody may become a good writer loith such 
 training, which is equally erroneous. Some people 
 write well almost directly they try, without first mak- 
 ing pothooks and hangers ; while others who have 
 made thousands of them write very indifferently. 
 Although it may be said truly that writing is a very 
 Mechanical Art, it may with equal truth be said that 
 men are not mere machines which must move with 
 unerring precision if once properly set in motion ; but 
 that they are often nervous, irritable, unobservant, 
 forgetful, imperfect-brained, habit-fettered, stiff- 
 jointed, clumsy-handed beings, totally incapable of 
 ever reaching mechanical perfection of movement. 
 To attempt to make some men artists with the Pen 
 by tedious training would be folly ; while to try to 
 render them clear writers would be wise, and the ta-k 
 an easy one. 
 
 I have taught adults to read and write who have 
 not known the names of the letters of the Alphabet. 
 In some cases they have been people of considerable 
 intelligence, who, in spite of their educational defici- 
 ences, had acquired wealth and influence. In such in- 
 stances I have worked upon Memory-aiding principles, 
 and have used my Syllable-ized Pictorial Alphabet, 
 with which the names of the letters can be impressed 
 upon the mind with surprising speed, and my Rapid 
 Heading, which enables the learner to read thousanda 
 of sentencea in a short space of time. See page 285.
 
 21 
 
 POSITION OF THE BODY. 
 
 Left side incline towards the desk, 
 
 Left arm rest near to the desk's edge ; 
 With left hand hold the paper down, 
 
 Your chest upon the desk don't wedge I 
 Put your paper square with desk, 
 
 A little to the right ; 
 Your pen-prongs point in such a way 
 
 That both at once may bite ! 
 
 The position of the body during writing, is of great 
 importance, both as regards the writing and the writer. 
 An awkward, uncomfortable position spoils the ap- 
 pearance of the writing, or renders its execution very 
 difficult ; and it also unnecessarily fatigues and annoys 
 the writer. A writer may sometimes feel fidgetty, 
 tired, and stupid, and scarcely know the cause ; the 
 real reason being, that he is in a wrong position. The 
 desk or table should be of the right height ; and the 
 form, chair, or stool, should be of the right height 
 also. There should also be a resting-place for the 
 feet, or ample room to put them down properly, and 
 the whole body should be as easy as possible. An 
 Editor, Author, or other writer, who has occasionally 
 to stop and think, will find an elbow-chair a great 
 comfort. 
 
 Sometimes those who feel fatigue when sitting to 
 write, get relief by standing up and writing. Those 
 who have to write a great deal, should be particularly 
 careful to endeavour to sit as upright as possible ; and 
 at all short intervals of cessation should throw their 
 head up, chest forward, and shoulders back. Many 
 writers become "pigeon breasted," "lop-sided," or 
 " round-shouldered," and often consumptive, through 
 sitting in a bad position. Writers should have their 
 writing apartments well ventilated ; and should take 
 healthful exercise.
 
 22 
 
 HOW TO HOLD THE PEN. 
 
 Place your fingers two and two, 
 
 Let your tlninib be bent ; 
 Keep your wrist up, and let your arm 
 
 Be near your elbow leant ! 
 
 Eest hand on little finger's tip, 
 See well what you're about ; 
 
 By having right eye vertical, 
 And keep your elbow out !
 
 23 
 
 The Rhyiiie given will enable the learner to carry 
 in his Memory, with ease, most of the essential de- 
 tails which appertain to the proper holding of the 
 pen. The method may be slightly modified to suit 
 different people, or the same people under different 
 circumstances, as hands vary very much in size and 
 shape ; we sometimes have to write upon a flat sur- 
 face, and at other times upon a slanting desk ; and 
 the size of the letters we wish to produce may some- 
 times be small, and sometimes large. The pen should 
 be held lightl}'', at about three-quarters of an inch 
 from the nib, resting on the side of the second finger 
 nail, and under the tip of the first finger, as shown in 
 the engravings. The pen should not be held too 
 perpendicularly, and the top of the pen should point 
 a little to the right of the right shoulder. The same 
 position of the hand must be maintained, or resumed, 
 while executing a piece of writing, as a change of 
 position would make a difference in its appearance. 
 The paper upon which j'ou are writing, should be 
 moved from time to time, so that the line you are 
 writing may always be at a convenient distance — 
 neither to^ far from you, nor too close to you. You 
 should put some smooth soft paper under the paper 
 upon which you are writing, to form a kind of pad, 
 to give better effect to your pen ; and you should 
 place a piece of blotting-paper under your hand, 
 upon the writing paper, so as to prevent it from being 
 soiled or receiving moisture. 
 
 On page 24 there is a fac-simile of a Pen and 
 Ink sketch of boys writing at school. This sketch 
 was taken while the boys were writing, without their 
 knowledge. They are good writers. It shows them 
 as they usually appear, and is a fair specimen of the 
 position boys acquire after proper training. 
 
 On page 25 there is a fac-simile of a Picture by
 
 24
 
 ^m 
 
 "Writer, by G. Terburg— paper out of square.
 
 26
 
 27 
 
 G. Terbtirg, in which the writer is represented with 
 his paper out of square, and not to the right, which 
 is a very common but objectionable way of placing 
 it. 
 
 On page 26 there is a fac-simile of an engraving 
 in "Bickham's Universal Penman," dated 1738. In 
 this engraving the Paper is in front of the writers, 
 instead of to their right. 
 
 ELEMENTARY WRITING MOVEMENTS. 
 
 The writer should observe and reraemher, that 
 straight lines, loops, and stems, are certainly quite 
 opposite, which sentence will enable him to carr}'- in 
 his Memory the six Elementary Writing Movements, 
 
 -.^raight ^ine, ^op, (^em, % ^, 
 
 and &. See Alphabet, page 40. 
 
 Straight lines may be thick, thin, or graduated ; 
 oblique, horizontal, or perpendicular. 
 
 Loops are inyf looped y^, etc., and in many Capitals. 
 The stem occurs in such capital letters as c^ c^ 
 t^ etc., and decreases. See page 41. 
 The ^movement increases. See page 40. 
 
 The .^movement increases also, but in the opposite 
 direction. See page 40. 
 
 The (^ movement decreases. 
 
 2
 
 28 
 
 MOVEMENTS OF THE FINGERS, ETC. 
 
 Success in writing is largely determined by ease, 
 and skill in the movement, not only of the fingers, 
 but of the hand and arm. The following are the 
 movements most worthy of notice : — 
 
 The Finger, Forearm, and the Arm, 
 Have separate Movements, oft we find ; 
 
 And Finger and Forearm Movements charm, 
 When skilfully they are Combined. 
 
 For Finger Movement, rest hand on small finger, 
 rest arm near to elbow, or half-way to elbow. This 
 Movement is for making the small letters. 
 
 For Forearm Movement, rest forearm near elbow 
 or half way to elbow, and roll it backwards and 
 forwards without raising it, or moving fingers. For 
 general writing. 
 
 For Arm Movement, glide small finger and swing 
 entire arm. For Capitals and Flourishes. 
 
 Combined Movement of fingers and forearm for 
 Small Capitals and Small Pland. 
 
 The habit of resting the wrist upon the desk is a 
 very frequent cause of Bad writing, and should be 
 carefully avoided, especially where freedom and 
 speed are required. 
 
 CHARA.CTERISTICS OF GOOD PENMANSHIP. 
 
 There are three characteristics of good Penman- 
 sliip, which may be secured by labour — Legibility, 
 Beauty, and Rapidity— which, singularly, may be 
 fixed in the Memory without labour by the conso- 
 nants, L, B, R, in " Labour" I
 
 29 
 
 Legibility is produced by large, round, thick, 
 separate letters, — 
 
 Beauty, by oval, smooth, neat, parallel letters, 
 contrasted in form and shading ; and — 
 
 Kapidity, by small, semi-angular, light, close 
 letters. 
 
 CALTGRAPHY. 
 
 The word Caligraphy means beautiful writing. 
 It is generally supposed to be derived from the Greek 
 words KuXos, beautiful, good : and ypa(pco, to write; 
 but some say it was adopted in honour of Calicrates, 
 the reputed Inventor of the Art, who produced some 
 very minute and elegant Writing, 472 B.C. 
 
 The word Caligraphy is often improperly used in 
 relation to ordinary Penmanship, the proper term for 
 which is Chirography, derived from the Greek words 
 and ypa(j)(o, to write — Handwriting. 
 
 STOKES'S GOLDEN RULE FOR WRITING. 
 
 When writing, bear this in mind, 
 You will find it a great assistance; 
 
 Form your letters of your own inclination, 
 To be easily read at a distance ! 
 
 The little Rule in Rhyme given above is intended 
 as a guide for all who desire to learn to write, or to 
 improve in writing. It will be perceived instantly 
 that it inculcates the habitual practice of writing 
 with boldness and legibility — two highly desirable 
 qualities to display. A little reflection will show 
 
 c 3
 
 30 
 
 that it urges upon the writer the necessity of his 
 becoming, as it were, his own Writing Master — he is 
 to bear in mind that which should be done, and is to 
 carr}^ out the instructions of his own accord — one of 
 the most important principles, which applies to all 
 studies ; for in intellectual and scholastic matters, aa 
 well as in the ordinary aifairs of life, Fortune 
 " Smiles on Self Help" 1 The Rule then considered 
 thus far, is a good one ; but it is a Mnemonical Rule 
 as well as a simple Memory Aiding Rhyme, and its 
 hidden meaning is as conspicuous when it has been 
 once seen, as it is at first difficult to discover. Good 
 Writing must be marked by Three Characteristics. 
 The letters must not be made imperfectly, but must 
 be of their proper Form ; they must not slant all 
 manner of ways, but must be of one Inclination ; 
 and they must not be partly crowded together, and 
 partly straggling, but must show equality o/distance. 
 Any defect in writing must be a violation of one of 
 these three essentials, so that it is highly desirable 
 tliat they should be kept constantly in the VVriter's 
 Memory. My little Rhyme presents them in a very 
 pleasing, rememberable form, and is invaluable to 
 all. For the uninitiated it is a reliable guide, and 
 those who are tolerably good writers, it enables more 
 closely to approach perfection. A knowledge of 
 this Rule gives a power of criticism to its possessor, 
 which is very agreeable. The beauties of good 
 writing can be at once perceived and appreciated, 
 and the defects of bad writing can be instantly 
 detected and avoided. In selecting a style of 
 writing, by being acquainted with this Rule, the 
 writer can decide wheliier his writing shall bo round, 
 oval, angular, or semi-angular ; perpendicular or 
 oblique ; compressed or extended ; and by having a 
 thoroughly intelligent knowledge of the object at
 
 31 
 
 which he is aiming, he is able to regulate his move- 
 ments with philosophic skill ! So — 
 
 When wiiting, bear this in mind, 
 You will find it a great assistance; 
 
 Form your letters of your own Inclination 
 To be easily read at a Distance I 
 
 HEIGHT OF THE LETTERS, ETC. 
 
 In writing great care should be taken to make 
 certain letters of the same height or length. This 
 matter often baffles very fair writers, as they cannot 
 remember the usual instructions, and in fact the 
 majority of tirst-rate writers and teachers of writing 
 are unable to name in an off-hand manner the letters 
 which are supposed to correspond in height and 
 length. 
 
 Thirteen small letters, <^ ^ <?, ^* <;^z^ <?^ ^ ^ 
 
 «^ ^ 'Z^ <j<{5, <r, are of the same height or length. 
 
 As they comprise half of the Alphabet, we will call 
 them "The Standard Letters," and will call their 
 height whatever it may be, "A Standard," and we 
 will measure the other letters, which vary, by this 
 "Standard." 
 
 ^ is one standard and a half, or half as high again 
 as a standard letter. 
 
 •^ <r^ /^ ^ -^ are half a standard higher than 
 
 ^y that is, they are two standards, or twice tho 
 height of the standard letters.
 
 32 
 
 ^ is two standards, or one standard longer than 
 
 the standard letters. 
 
 A is two standards and a half, the height of t; that 
 
 is, half a standard higher than the standard letters, 
 and one standard longer than the standard letters. 
 
 9-^ O l/y jI/ ^^® ^^^ standards and a half, or 
 
 one standard and a half longer than the standard 
 letters. 
 
 ^and loopedy^ are four standards ; one standard 
 
 and a half higher than the standards, and one letter 
 standard and a half longer than the standard letters. 
 Ordinary Capitals are two and a half standards 
 high ; that is, one standard and a half higher than 
 the standard letters, being the same as the highest 
 
 email letters, y and loopedy^- and long Capitals are 
 
 four standards, one standard and a half higher than 
 the standard letters, and one standard and a half 
 longer than the standard letters, the lower portion 
 being the same length as the longest lower portion 
 of the small letters. 
 
 The figures, /^ ^, S^ J/y J^ o, 0. are one stan- 
 dard. 
 
 S is one standard and a half, or half as high 
 again as the standard letters and figures. 
 
 and ^ are one standard and a half, or half as 
 
 long again as the standard letters and figures. 
 
 The preceding is a clear explanation of the re- 
 
 7-
 
 83 
 
 lative height and length of all the letters and figui-es ; 
 but although it may be understood by all careful and 
 intelligent Readers, many will forget the details far 
 more quickly than they comprehended them, unless 
 they be presented to the mind in a Mnemonical, or 
 Memory Aiding form. I will therefore give them in 
 that form, and should anybody in a surly manner 
 raise an objection, I will simply say with all duo 
 deference, — 
 
 which will give all the standard letters, and no others. 
 Should our Antagonistic friend persist in his oppo- 
 sition, while facts in favour of Mnemonics stare him 
 in the face, and arguments against them can only 
 prove his obtuseness, I shall intimate that I shall 
 
 regret to have to say to him, "-^^^cy^i^^^t^ judi- 
 ciously ^uide your ^eal, u^/e^ you wish /o 
 
 t./ztufi -a -fe-e 
 
 /y 
 
 ^ but I shall add that if I thus 
 
 unco'iirteously address him, it will only be to enable 
 him easily to remember in classified order the whole 
 
 of the other letters of the Alphabet. Thus " ^uxc^^- 
 
 'n€a€c'''' will suggest all the letters which are two 
 
 standards high, the initial letters of '"'' j^itucccottd-t^ 
 
 ^e.'uc'de yc^l ^ea//'' will suggest all the letters 
 
 which are two standards and a half long. The long 
 
 / is given in " ^^^€^," and ^ ^* A' /> ^^® ^°
 
 34 
 
 The numerals require no Mnemonical suggestion8. 
 The advantage of having these Mnemonics thoroughly 
 at command is very great, as they give readiness and 
 decision in producing the letters, and enable the 
 writer easily to secure uniformity of style. 
 
 The Mnemonics which I hare given apply to Large 
 Text, Small Text, Round Hand, and Small Hand ; 
 and are based upon the theory and practice of 
 some of the highest authorities and most celebrated 
 and exquisite Penmen, and if faithfully acted upon 
 they cannot fail to produce very elegant Writing, 
 which will be highly admired by many, but as tastes 
 and requirements differ, other styles will be preferred 
 by some. (See page 35.) 
 
 Those who wish to write in another style should 
 bear in mind the Mnemonics which I have given, 
 and should modify their use of them ; for in- 
 stance, — 
 
 The Capitals may be made either higher or 
 
 lower ; ^, Z A^ '/t^ ■€, may be looped ; the long 
 
 letters may be made longer ; the high letters and 
 
 the long letters may be made shorter; .a may be 
 
 made the same height as A and /^ instead of the 
 
 height of the high letters, etc. The simple appli- 
 cation of my Golden Rule for Aiding the Memory 
 (see "Stokes on Memory," Seven tj'-ni nth edition, 
 page 07), " Observe, reflect, link thought with 
 . thought, and think of the impressions," will enable 
 man}' people to make any of these alterations with- 
 out any special Mnemonics ; but should anybody 
 experience any difliculty in the matter, the following 
 additional Mnemonics will remove it at once.
 
 35 
 
 
 s^- 

 
 36
 
 37 
 
 The only high letters which are supposed to be 
 looped are -u, /^ A^ ^, Z which can easily be re- 
 membered by thinking of a /<:x<^A and a " 'U/a^ 
 
 Ao'c/''' — " ^Ot'C^ A'a<x/'^'^ giving all the looped 
 
 letters. Many people loop ^, A^ // but if they 
 
 remembered " ^Cc/^t-c^ Ao^^x//'' and were aware of 
 the ambiguity often caused by looping ^/^ A ^, 
 every writer would consider looping them a habit 
 that was rather d/^Aidy a clearer style would pro- 
 bably €k/cA/^ and in the proper formation of the 
 letters he would possibly become an ^c/^A/. The 
 tvord '' dAuAi</''^ will politely suggest the letters 
 which should not be looped, as will also the word 
 €L</<xA/ and uaeA^. 
 
 Making <Qr only the height of A or -^ instead of 
 the height of the high letters makes a great deal of 
 difference in the appearance of the writing ; so the 
 shortened </ many may like to n'c/oA/^ the word 
 
 " 'U^/^iA/'''^ will suggest the letters which in tJiat 
 style are of uniform height.
 
 38 
 
 The word *' z^eca^^ / coming after the numer- 
 ous Mnemonics which I have already given, will sug- 
 
 gest volumes, c^ will suggest the height of the 
 
 Capitals, e and <;'will suggest the height of the stan- 
 dard letters and numerals, and that they should always 
 be made of their proper height and proper form ; ^ 
 will suggest the long letters and their peculiarities ; 
 ^will suggest the height of the high and looped 
 letters ; and /will suggest the one and a half height 
 letters, shortened u^ letters which should not be 
 
 looped, etc. ; and that by regarding these suggestions 
 we tend to secure the height of legibility, the height 
 of speed, and the height of beauty, that by good writ- 
 ing we may possibly be enabled indirectly to reach the 
 height of our ambition ; that we must learn to climb 
 patiently and perseveringly many a height present- 
 ing many difficulties, if we wish to secure the height 
 of success ; and that, therefore, to make no effort in 
 the right direction — upwards and onwards — would 
 be the height of folly ! 
 
 It is a great advantage to present various details 
 to the eye, or to the mind's eye, at one glance ; for 
 instance, a very young child may be enabled to un- 
 derstand the relative heights of many letters by plac- 
 ing ^VV^tcgether — upon which plan possibly many 
 a teacher has /i^^ and " ^Cc/''^ will tell the /t/-^'U 
 
 ones the letters required ! Again, the long letters are 
 better remembered by means of the Mneraonical
 
 39 
 
 sentence I have given than without, because the 
 otherwise perplexed learner can upon that sentence 
 
 without a .ut-Ms with ^'<x^i ^U'l^ — the words "- 
 
 /■^i ^<^J<j/^ give the looped letters in a very small 
 
 compass, and this sentence will therefore be found 
 preferable to its straggling equivalent. Various other 
 peculiarities of the letters will be suggested when- 
 
 ever we -/he ^uil y^en y lourish. The initial letters 
 
 of "/he ^uill ^en ylourish " will suggest the same 
 
 peculiarities as the words " ^?^ ^^fittA -a /i^-e /''■' 
 
 but as the initial sentence requires less analytical effort 
 than the other, it will be found preferable for some 
 minds, although the Mnemonical sentences given at 
 first will be found quite sufficient for most people. 
 I have added the others, not because they were 
 absolutely necessary, but because I have found that 
 they are generally considered singular and interest- 
 ing, and they are occasionally useful. 
 
 Z> 2
 
 40 
 
 
 
 ay 
 
 J 
 
 ^4y 
 
 (^ .V^ ^ y^ ^ ^y^cy 
 
 yy ^.^y 
 
 y^s^s^&Z^^^. 
 
 Very legible, but rather slow, formal style of writing.
 
 41 
 
 C^cf^r 
 
 
 M <# 
 
 a^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 -^'I 
 
 ^zT^ 
 
 e^ 
 
 c^^ 
 
 ^' 
 
 ^. 
 
 =^ 
 
 ,^^ 
 
 ^^rrf^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 % 
 
 is: 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ■v 
 
 «^ 
 
 
 
 
 -^. 
 
 
 
 ^^/2y 
 
 X 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 -^t^^ 
 
 "^^ 
 
 ^^'^ 
 
 ,az^ 
 
 j^ 
 
 
 
 Very legible, and moderately quick and free style of writing. 
 
 D 3
 
 42 
 
 'U 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 ^2> 
 
 t:^ 
 
 
 -:^:f^ 
 
 
 <^^ 
 
 
 Veiy lej,dble, and rapid style of Business Writing.
 
 43 
 
 STOKES'S 
 
 ALPHABETICAL CO.PY HEAD 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS FOR WRITING. 
 
 Aspire to be a good writer ! 
 
 Begin by writing your exercises slowly. 
 
 Carefully criticise and re-regulate your Writing. 
 
 Do not despair if at first you write awkwardly. 
 
 Endeavour to gain freedom of fingers, wrist, and 
 
 fore arm. 
 Flourish not too frequently ; oft flourishes are faults. 
 Gradually and gracefully increase your writing speed. 
 Hold your Pen lightly, but well at command. 
 Invariably dot each i, and don't omit your stops. 
 Judiciously select the Pen best suited to your use. 
 Keep all you want for Writing, constantly at hand. 
 Let mind and Pen together keep, whenever you are 
 
 writing. 
 Mentally practise the most approved Penmanship. 
 Never leave your Pen in the Ink. 
 Occasionally trace and copy Good Writing with a 
 
 dry Pen. 
 Prevent mistakes in special things by writing in 
 
 BLOCK LETTERS. 
 
 Quickly make clear all imperfectly formed letters. 
 Remove your Pen from the paper as little as 
 
 possible. 
 Slant all your Writing in the same direction. 
 Try various experiments in holding your Pen. 
 Use your spare moments in practising Writing. 
 Violent exercise and excitement, avoid before 
 
 Writing. 
 Whenever you can, use the best Writing materials. 
 X, and every letter, form with the utmost care. 
 You must constantly try to teach yourself Writing. 
 Zealously practice Writing, till you gain the skill 
 
 required.
 
 44 
 
 HOW TO WRITE RAPIDLY. 
 
 If possible, be sure that your pen, pen-holder, ink, 
 and paper, suit you. A scratchy, spattering steel 
 pen, or a bad, blotting quill ; an uncomfortable pen- 
 holder, which feels too thick, too thin, too short or 
 too long, too light or too heavy, or one which does 
 not hold the pen tightly ; ink too thick or too thin, 
 and paper too rough or too smooth, would tend to 
 lessen your speed in writing. 
 
 Make small semi-angular, light, close letteis, and 
 keep your wrist up while writing. See page 22. 
 
 Never lift j^our pen from the paper when you can 
 with advantage avoid it, and never keep your pen 
 upon the paper when that would delay you. A good 
 "Fountain Pen," or pen with a kind of tongue at 
 the back, will retain sufficent ink for writing two or 
 three pages of foolscap with one dip, which is no 
 small aid to rapidity. 
 
 That which has been said respecting Rapid Writ- 
 ing, refers to the mechanical portion of the operation ; 
 but it will be well to consider the mental part of the 
 process also, for a person may form letters quickly, 
 and yet not be, strictly speaking, a Rapid Writer ; or 
 he may write rapidly, but incorrectly, which is not 
 the kind of Rapid Writing we should care to cul- 
 tivate. 
 
 There are three distinct phases of Writing, each 
 of which requires some special mental power as well 
 ts mechanical skill. 
 
 1st. Writing from one's own mind. 
 2nd. Writing from " Copy." 
 3rd. Writing from dictation. 
 The first, Writing from one's own Mind, as in ordinary 
 letter-writing and authorship, requires a rapid flow 
 of ideas, and ready command of words to express
 
 45 
 
 them, combined with concentration of thought; a 
 certain power of restraint to keep the mind from 
 going too far in advance of the pen ; and active 
 Memory to retain, without omission, the ideas that 
 have entered the mind, and which require to be 
 written. 
 
 Second, Writing from " Copy," as copying deeds, 
 manuscripts, etc., requires concentration, cultivation 
 of the eye, so as readily to see that which is written, 
 perception of ideas, the power of retaining in the 
 Memory for some little time, the precise words used 
 to express the thoughts ; the power of perceiving 
 instantly, and of retaining in the mind, the introduc- 
 tion of capital letters, underlines, stops, paragraphs, 
 etc. 
 
 Third, for Writing from Dictation, involved in 
 the work of Entering Clerkship, sometimes in Secre- 
 taryship, and in other pursuits, mental coolness, 
 calmness, concentration, and the power of hearing 
 ccrrectlv, are necessary ; also the power of retaining 
 in the Memory for some little time the precise words 
 given. 
 
 A knowledge and Memory of grammar, spelling, 
 and how and where Capitals, underlines, stops, para- 
 graphs, etc., should be introduced, are necessary in 
 each case. 
 
 To write rapidly, notice the requirements, and as 
 far as possible endeavour to meet them by practically 
 applying the suggestions given, which may be re- 
 tained by means of my Golden Rule for aiding the 
 Memory. See " Stokes on Memory," page 67. 
 
 It you cannot write rapidly when j'ou simply think 
 and Write, put your thoughts into articulated words, 
 either aloud or mentally, while writing them, which, 
 may assist you.
 
 46 
 
 HOW TO WRITE WITHOUT LIFTING THE 
 PEN. 
 
 Shape the Capital Letters as shown on page 47. 
 all of which Capitals can be formed and joined to 
 other letters without lifting the pen, and for form- 
 ing and joining the small letters similarly, a simple 
 device gives certain quickness ! The inititial letters 
 
 of the sentence ^^ tj^ ^^cimple <2Jevice ^ives per- 
 tain quickness," — a^ ^ d^ ^^ -c^ ^ give the six 
 
 small letters which in the ordinary way cause fre- 
 quent stopping, and which require special formation. 
 
 To avoid lifting the pen when making the <^ portion 
 of ^^ -d, ■a, and ^ strike continuously from the 
 
 preceding letter to the top, through the middle, or 
 from the bottom, as shown on page 47, 
 
 Run a line through the down stroke of <f, and 
 
 either strike through ^c, or form a curve to the ball 
 
 and trace back. See page 47. 
 
 The following hints will also facilitate writing 
 rapidly without lifting the Pen. 
 
 ■Ci should always be struck from the top, either 
 
 from left to right, as in "Stokes," page 168, or from 
 right to left, as in " Stokes," page 182. 
 
 ^ may be made as shown in the word " show- 
 ing," on page 181, by which the formation of an up- 
 stroke is saved.
 
 47 
 
 How to form and join the letters without lifting the pen.
 
 48 
 
 y. may be tailed from left to right, as in '* every," 
 
 page 181, instead of from right to left, as in " Day," 
 page 181. 
 
 .<3f may be made with a tail when it does not begin 
 
 a word, as shown in the word " and," on page 181. 
 These suggestions might vulgarly be designated 
 
 ''^ €C'a€i^y./'^ but if so, that word would call to 
 
 mind the letters specially referred to. 
 
 A whole sentence, or an entire page, even of 
 Foolscap, may be written legibly without lifting 
 the pen, by running a hair line from word to word, 
 allowing a greater space between the letters than 
 between the parts of the letters, and still greater 
 space between the words. 
 
 SPECIAL FREE HAND EXERCISES. 
 
 By carrying out the instructions which I have 
 given, the learner may begin to write the instant he 
 makes his first attempt at Writing, without any pre- 
 liminary exercises ; and to an adult especially, it is 
 very gratifying to learn to write, though it may be in 
 a very awkward fashion, in one short Lesson. This. 
 in my experience of teaching, I have repeatedly 
 proved to be not simply possible, but in many cases 
 easy ; and the subsequent use of the Pen for practical 
 purposes, without any special practice of Writing 
 merely for writing's sake, has rendered the learners 
 good writers. Others may undoubtedly secure simi- 
 lar results. When special practice is required, the 
 following simple exercises, which are shown on page 
 49, are of great service. Rough Illustrations are 
 given in preference to more perfect ones, so that the
 
 49
 
 50 
 
 learner may be encouraged to attempt them, and to 
 improve upon them. Some of the choice specimens 
 of Writing given in various parts of the book can be 
 imitated afterwards. 
 
 1st. The horizontal dash, made with a stroke of 
 the pen from left to right, the dash being varied in 
 length from six inches to one inch, care being taken 
 to hold the pen properly in all cases, as in the in- 
 structions. 
 
 2nd. The horizontal zig-zag, commencing with 
 long dashes, gradually decreasing, and terminating 
 with short ones. For Ladies' Angular Hand, the zig- 
 zags should be made sharply, but for Semi- Angular 
 Hand and Round Hand, they should be slightly 
 curved. 
 
 3rd. Zig-zags with vaiious tops and tails, 
 
 4th. Over-lapping ovals. 
 
 6th. Continuous loops. 
 
 6th. Continuous double loops. 
 
 The last three Exercises are as valuable for Capi- 
 tals as for small letters, and should be varied in size, 
 beginning with large formations which should be 
 gradually decreased. 
 
 The whole of the small letters of the Alphabet may 
 be formed upon the Horizontal Zig-zag, as will be 
 seen from the Hlustrations on page 51. 
 
 A knowledge of the manner in which the letters 
 may be formed thus, and from each other, as ex- 
 plained in the Burlesque Rhyme, page 15, &c., is of 
 great advantage when an alteration has to be made 
 in words which have been written, as it often happens 
 that by simply adding a stroke or two, a word 
 which would otherwise require to be scratched out 
 with a knife, or scratched through with a Pen, 
 can be transformed into the word required, without 
 detection.
 
 Horizontal Zig-zag, showing the whole of the Small Letters of 
 the Alphabet formed upon it. 
 
 E 2
 
 52 
 
 PRACTICE PENMANSHIP ON PRINTED 
 PAPER. 
 
 Printed Paper, such as Newspaper, etc., which ia 
 generally regarded as useless for Writing purposes, 
 is admirably suited for elementary Writing Exercises ; 
 the lines enabling the inexperienced writer to write 
 straightly, and to make his strokes and letters of 
 equal size, either large or small, at pleasure, without 
 involving the trouble of ruling lines specially, and 
 without the expense of prepared Copy Books, which 
 often look too good to be spoiled, and thus make the 
 learner reluctant to try experiments. Unfortunately 
 even a Penny Copy Book is a luxur}'- in which 
 hundreds of thousands of poor children and poor 
 adults cannot indulge; I hope therefore that my 
 suggestions upon this point may become extensively 
 useful. Schools of poor children and others, may 
 by these means be taught to write well upon 
 paper at very trifling expense. Those who can 
 afford Copy Books, and who prefer using them, 
 should have them by all means, but those wishing to 
 use Printed Paper for writing exercises should care- 
 fully fold an old Newspaper, so that each page shall 
 be creased into four, or eight, according to taste, 
 letting each fold have three perpendicular columns. 
 Cut it so as to form a book, and stick a pin in it, 
 to keep the leaves neatly together. Use a pen with 
 a rather broad point, and go through the special 
 exercises which are here given. See page 53. 
 
 No. 1. Strike a series of horizontal lines between 
 the printed lines. 
 
 No. 2 Make a number of oblique lines of various 
 heights. 
 
 No. 3. Make the self -repeated 0. Form the letter
 
 53 
 
 Misinneirti 
 
 STciKrEg nir ]\lE]ScaE:z.^<lii'Mongay^«.M'E. Sto^C3> ga^a 
 his sevenltV"!lita.a. eigh.tB"T>fettlgnstratiQii3 nr" ACgTItTed" 
 
 Aleinory'in'SlI'tl'^hu's Hlili: "t'lier Worsinptul the iM' 
 
 'aii(:l''1'a.'a, I'lrghlyjcuTo^ticy spcecli coDgrci,luiatea~ Mc- 
 
 i-^tol^iea upc-n -^^'^^'g 
 
 UiQ iUemox7\ 
 
 reat Buccess ln~tho scientTno " cultuxo oj^ 
 
 lie liaJ , gladly cmiseat&d to iako tlia nhaiT) imt? lia rau^ 
 
 admit 
 
 feiderei 
 
 Bhoiilil -wlfcaesa anLh an hx- 
 
 Hi3 VVticaliip con.- 
 
 promjoMng £iliicaiimiaL 
 
 "nicfr tOiilia enjoy- 
 
 ' .ofi'Iiia 
 
 tLa 
 lie 
 
 'of tllQ 
 
 „ _ .. . - ^ ^ _ -eic too 
 
 afteiTfniitkss attempts to luaater educational dilSculfci£34 
 MRj JB.1SII1 HonaEs on <' CaaiPHiasATiois ,roB 
 U]^TEXHAUSIfiDBlPEQVE5IENTS.''--Ageirei:almeeting of 
 
 the East) 
 da.ylas't, 
 raad ' 
 tlis 
 me; 
 
 wlien a paper wss 
 
 jeasat' 
 Gi 
 ) c 
 
 raemflus.- Tm? #aper, 
 siibmittrtf tlio I 
 is tli^opinrog^f tills 
 ^^^ j9 of Isnd^i^^^tixe iexnj^ 
 to y eai\*T!& q ' extra outlay in corn and cako £e3> ormaunres 
 hmiglio anil used, cm tli9 land by tlia teiiaM_dirdn^thB 
 
 ,im.- 
 en- 
 
 Df ' " "" - - - - - — - ^ 
 
 iJi Day (Gtaih3jB)i MansEs, and colfanroi took parti faL- 
 lowed tbs read&ig of tlia papE?> snd evEUtnaHVj on tha 
 Hug^iiSiiiiD at ihs oiiainnsni tbs dfibats waa fl.diQiim£d ta 
 the oeadJ paiEEaJlKEEfing, 
 Thb THBAiiEBi — D"ii]3Dg tJls HEck ths Wbfiair^ baa 
 i*fl J 'been iangaly pSiEQiLiEadi aad ^.'hg pt;^ -.gntT\a inzbtLo laya 
 
 Dallastype reproduction of Special Writinj? Exercises upon a 
 cutting from " Keble'H Mai-gate ana Ramsgate Gazette," of 
 Saturday, September 14th, 187^. 
 
 E 3
 
 54 
 
 about fifty tiroes in succession, upon precisely the 
 same oval, without lifting the pen. 
 
 Devote one or two pages to each exercise, and 
 afterwards make similar Exercise Books, and practice 
 writing in them at discretion. 
 
 To acquire the power of writing straightly without 
 lines, write along the white margins of the paper, 
 and, if requisite, fold another Newspaper the same 
 way as before, but cut it, and pin it, so that the 
 columns shall run in the book horizontally, instead 
 of perpendicularly, and write in the horizontal 
 direction, across the printed lines, instead of along 
 them. Write in this manner also if you have a ten- 
 dency to cramp or sprawl your writing, as the lines 
 of type being thus perpendicular will guide you in 
 spacing the letters and words. 
 
 An old Railway Time Book will serve very nicely 
 as a Writing Exercise Book. 
 
 The unused half sheets of letters which are to be 
 destroyed may be used with advantage for pen prac- 
 tice after writing upon printed paper. 
 
 The following is an Alphabetical series of short 
 sentences — maxims — which I give as bold Small 
 Hand Exercises for Newspaper Columns. Each sen- 
 tence to be written in one line, across two columns. 
 
 Act with integrity. 
 Beware of delays. 
 Cultivate your taste. 
 Despise ingratitude. 
 Emulate noble acts. 
 Fear false friends. 
 Give to the needy. 
 Hope on — hope ever I 
 Inquire of the wise. 
 Judge not too hastily. 
 Know thyself 1
 
 55 
 
 Learn of all men. 
 Make no mischief. 
 Never borrow — never lend I 
 Observe minutely. 
 Persevere patiently. 
 Quietly shun quarrelling. 
 Remember your promises. 
 Study economy. 
 Think before acting. 
 Uphold the truth. 
 Value your health. 
 Watch beginnings. 
 eXpect disappointments. 
 Yield not to temptation. 
 Zealously do good. 
 
 Dallastype Facsimile of Free Hand continuous 
 Flourish, and Writing, for Professional Card, 
 executed by Mr. Dl-XON in less than Five Minutes. 
 See page 141.
 
 66 
 
 
 
 
 WViy are the Bketchcs put at the top? 
 Becau&e they are pictorial Feri-TJian-sJiiii.
 
 57
 
 '69
 
 61
 
 63 
 
 F 2
 
 64
 
 ()5 
 
 F 3
 
 67 
 
 M 
 
 'kii 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^'
 
 68
 
 69
 
 70 
 
 THE HISTORY OF WRITING 
 
 Is a subject of intense interest. Curious, laborious, 
 and patient investigations Lave been made in order 
 to try to trace the origin and development of Writing, 
 and much conjecture and debate have arisen respect- 
 ing it. 
 
 Some suppose Writing to have been of Divine 
 Origin, some that it was used by Adam, some that it 
 was invented by some man of advanced intelligence 
 much later, some that it was practised by many men 
 of different and distinct races at the same time. 
 Some that an Alphabet was designed at once, others 
 that it was gradually developed, and some, that it 
 was communicated by God to Moses ; but it is more 
 generally believed that Moses learned the Art of 
 writing of the Egyptians, who used Chaldaic Char- 
 acters derived from the Phenicians. Nilme, in his 
 very able Essay on Languages and Letters, published 
 in 1772, gives the Illustration on page 71. Chaldaic 
 letters are on the top line, Hebrew beneath them, 
 and Early Roman on the bottom line, Nilme con- 
 tends that all letters were originally derived from the 
 first two forms in the lower line. Each form or 
 modification having special and important signifi- 
 cance. At whatever time Alphabetical Writing may 
 have been known, it seems clear that other modes of 
 conveying ideas were for a long time more generally 
 in use. Outlines or pictures, were used to represent 
 objects; afterwards, outlines, pictures, or obje,cts, 
 were usefl as symbols to suggest not simply objects, 
 but abstract thoughts, as elaborately developed by 
 the Egyptians in their Hieroglyphics or sacred carv- 
 ings. These Hieroglyphics were strictly Mnemoni- 
 cal, each object calling to Memory an idea, or series, 
 or cluster of ideas, which objects when variously
 
 r 
 
 >iM 
 
 
 n 
 
 6 
 
 w 
 
 
 
 nn 
 
 u 
 
 x< 
 
 ^ 
 
 uO 
 
 >\^o 
 
 ^
 
 73 
 
 combined, modified in shape, or different in size, 
 position, and colour, produced incalculable mental 
 suggestions upon filled principles, retained in the 
 Memory of those who were initiated in the art of 
 comprehending them. Many of the suggestions 
 produced by Hieroglyphics are known, and when ex- 
 plained, are easy to understand and remember. 
 Thus, an eye represented Providence; a globe the 
 world ; a globe with a pair of wings, the universe ; 
 an open hand, liberality ; a ring, eternity. 
 
 On page 13 there are some Egyptian Illustrations. 
 The first is a man with a circle on his head. He is 
 Re or Phre the Sun^ beneath him is an Egyptian 
 Goose, under which is a Bee^ the emblem of Royalty, 
 probably suggested by the Queen Bee ; beneath 
 which is a drawing of a man, and to the left of it is 
 a kind of tm^ilten character^ representing a man. The 
 third picture in the row beneath, represents an Eye 
 with a tear, with which it will not be difficult to 
 associate and remember the idea of grief. A sup- 
 posed Egyptian Alphabet and Numbers are at the 
 bottom of the page. 
 
 The use of letters, or signs, to represent not simply 
 objects or ideas, but sounds, though by so many 
 lightly esteemed, is most marvellous, and shows a 
 far higher development of intelligence than the 
 employment of symbols. 
 
 To the untutored mind it seems incomprehensible. 
 It requires more perception, reflection, and Memory, 
 to trace the effect of letters upon the intelligence, than 
 the use of pictures or symbols, which is practically 
 illustrative of one of the principles of suggestion 
 explained in " Stokes on Memory," that like suggests 
 like. Thus, i\\Q picture of a Man, will suggest a man to 
 a savage as well as to ourselves ; but the written word 
 " Man " will not, ag there is no resemblance. It is
 
 73
 
 74 
 
 said that the savage Finnow, king of the Tonga 
 Islands, was thoroughly astonished when his name, 
 which had been written down by Mr. Mariner, was 
 read by an Englishman, who had not been present 
 when it was written. Finnow examined the writing 
 and exclaimed, " This is neither like me nor anybody 
 else. Where are my legs ? How do you know it to 
 be I ? " Although letters are now in themselves 
 unsuggestive, they were originally pictorial and sug- 
 gestive, being similar in shape to objects familiar to 
 those by whom they were used. 
 
 The Chinese Written Language was originally pic- 
 torial, and continues to supply marks or signs to 
 represent objects and ideas, instead of embracing the 
 more advanced use of letters for sounds. According 
 to some authorities, the Chinese Characters amount 
 to eighty thousand, although not more than fifteen or 
 twenty thousand are mastered by their learned men. 
 The Chinese Characters are classified under 214 heads, 
 or Radicals, which form Keys to the entire language. 
 The difficulty of mastering even the Radicals, need 
 not be pointed out to many who have made the 
 attempt. A very remarkable and most successful 
 application of my System of Memory has been made 
 by Mr. Thomas Jenner, who, by its aid, speedily fixed 
 the whole of the Radicals in his mind, and that so 
 thoroughly, that he could tell the number, form the 
 sign, pronounce the name, and give the meaning of 
 every Radical instantly. He has lectured upon the 
 subject, giving practical Illustrations before the 
 Asiatic Society, and various learned bodies, Institu- 
 tions, etc. ; and has kindly given Demonstrations at 
 my residence, which have been very highly esteemed. 
 An extract from the " Athenaeum," respecting Mr. 
 Jenner's achievements, is in " Stokes on Memory," 
 79Dh edition, page 204. I am indebted to Mr.
 
 75 
 
 Jenner for many pupils, and I have an extensive 
 connection of correspondence pupils in China, who 
 are most appreciative and friendly. 
 
 The Chinese write in perpendicular Columns going 
 downwards, the Columns being arranged from right to 
 left. By the kind permission of the Proprietors of 
 the Graphic, I am enabled to give an illustration on 
 page 76, of a Chinaman writing New Year's Maxims. 
 Tne original picture is ll|x8f inches. 
 
 To notice the various kinds of Writing practised by 
 different Nations, and at difEerent times, is impossible 
 here ; neither can all the materials used to write upon 
 be described, from Granite Rocks to Paper Collars ; 
 stone in various forms, huge and minute, common 
 and precious stones, clay-baked or sun-dried ; mor- 
 tar, and cements of many kinds ; earth, mud, sand, 
 dust, gravel ; blocks of wood, slices of wood, and 
 shavings ; wood rough, wood planed, wood waxed, 
 bark of trees, leaves of trees, plants, etc, ; their 
 film and fibre in various forms, including the early 
 paper from the papyrus reed ; bamboo, etc. ; sea 
 weeds, etc. ; roughly dried skins of animals, parch- 
 ment, and leather. Blade-bones of sheep, and bones 
 of numerous other animals, animals' tusks, horns, and 
 teeth in a rough state ; prepared ivory, whalebone, 
 and the bone of other fish ; oyster-shells, and the 
 shells of many fish, egg-shells ; glass, dough baked, 
 and various pulps. Iron, brass, lead, zinc, copper, 
 bronze, silver, gold, and other metals. Cotton, linen, 
 silk, paper, gelatine, glass, and other fabrics. 
 
 Early " Writing " upon Rocks, etc., was a kind of 
 rough carving, performed with sharp iron and other 
 implements. A kind of scratching or engraving 
 upon small precious stones followed, and rendering 
 writing portable and compact, was ttie result of sub- 
 sequent endeavours. 
 
 2
 
 76 
 
 ti£]y YCA&'S AUT IS CBISK
 
 Carviug, engraving, scratching, stamping, casting, 
 embossing, painting, printing, etching, zincography, 
 lithography, photography, stereotyping, electrotyping, 
 Dallastyping, and numerous interesting mechanical 
 and chemical processes employed for producing and 
 multiplying Writing, might each claim a share of 
 attention here, did space permit ; but suggestive men- 
 tion of them can alone be made. 
 
 Much might be said respecting the Writing, and 
 Writing implements and materials alluded to in 
 Scripture and in Ancient History, with which 
 modern appliances are often erroneously associated. 
 Artists and engravers have not unfrequently made 
 remarkable blunders in these matters. 
 
 An ancient "letter" was sometimes written or 
 scratched upon pieces of waxed wood with a kind of 
 bodkin. These pieces of wood had a string run 
 through them with which they were tied together, 
 and the knot was sealed, to prevent inspection of the 
 Writing. 
 
 An early Hebrew " book " was generally written 
 upon linen or leather, and consisted of a roll. These 
 rolls were of various lengths, often from fifteen to 
 one hundred feet long, and about twelve inches wide. 
 The Writing was from right to left, in Capitals, and 
 the pages began at the right hand, or, as we should 
 say, end of the rolls, which were fastened upon sticks, 
 and were unwound and rewound, so as to leave only 
 a page or two open at a time. When parchment was 
 afterwards employed for Writing, it was so valuable 
 that the Writing was often obliterated, so that the 
 parchment might be used again. Early ink was 
 often largely composed of soot and guoa, or of ivory- 
 black and gum. 
 
 The word "style" of Writing is suggestive of 
 more than the mere Writing in a certain fashion, 
 
 Q 3
 
 78 
 
 and was originally associated with the nse of the for- 
 midable iron Writing implement bearing the name 
 of Style, with which the Ancients often both wrote and 
 fought. Csesar stabbed Cassius in the arm with his 
 Style, when in the Senate. Cassianus, who was 
 killed by his scholars, was stabbed by them with 
 their styles, A.u. 365 ; and other atrocities were per- 
 petrated with styles at different times. The use of 
 these deadly weapons was ultimately prohibited by 
 the Romans, and bone or ivory styles were employed 
 instead. The general use of the reed, cane, or 
 pointed stick followed, and was practised for a long 
 time previous to the adoption of the quill. 
 
 St. Augustine did his best for the cultivation of 
 the Art of Writing in Britain in the Sixth Century ; 
 but long after his time Writing was almost exclu- 
 sively practised by the Clergy, through which the 
 word " Clericus," or " Clerk," originally meaning a 
 Clergyman, was afterwards used to signify a Writer, 
 and a mistake in Writing is now often called a 
 " clerical error " — meaning a mistake in Clerkship. 
 Many of the Clergy did not shine as Writers, after 
 the art had been partly propagated ; and even some 
 of the Bishops, unable to write their name, made the 
 '* Sign of the Cross" upon important documents as a, 
 substitute, close to where the Clerk had written it, 
 from which practice the term " signing " a name is 
 derived. 
 
 Kings, Queens, and other personages, adopted the 
 same device, till some having gained enlarged views, 
 scorned so trivial a performance, and demonstrated 
 superior skill by going so far as to form the Initial 
 Letters of their names. Others went further, and 
 wrote their names in full — although several Mon- 
 archs, and great men having tried indefatigably to 
 master this accomplishment, found it too much for
 
 79 
 
 them; so they conquered a Nation, or did something 
 of that kind instead, — the great Charlemagne, 
 crowned Emperor of the West, a.d. 800, is among 
 the number. He used to place his writing tablets 
 under his pillow so as to practise during his supposed 
 time of rest, but all to no purpose. 
 
 In the year 1516, so few wrote in London, that 
 when a seditious paper had been stuck up in St. 
 Paul's, an order was given to the Aldermen and 
 Privy Councillors, to go to all who could write in the 
 City, and examine their Writing, in order to dis- 
 cover the offender. 
 
 Very crude aids for Memory were at this time in 
 use as substitutes for Writing, such as the transfer 
 of peas or pebbles from one pocket to another, carry- 
 ing nuts in the mouth, tying knots, cutting notches 
 in sticks, etc. These visible or tangible aids are still 
 often employed by people who cannot write, and 
 v/ho do not understand the art of using mental re- 
 minders. 
 
 Sometimes persons of an original and artistic turn 
 have departed from the formation of the much-used 
 Cross, and have indulged in a special deformity desig- 
 nated their " Mark," to which they " could swear if 
 wanted." 
 
 The American gentleman, Mr. Alfred Hole — 
 whose date of birth and place of residence are unfor- 
 tunately unknown— was probably the most ingenious 
 designer of an abbreviated signature of which there 
 has been any record. It is said that at the close of his 
 letters he merely pierced the paper with his pen, hy 
 which he produced A hole.
 
 80 
 
 "NEW" SYSTEMS OF WRITING, 
 AND THE OLD WRITING MASTERS. 
 
 Several comparatively recent Professors of the 
 Art of Writing have laid claim to the invention of 
 teaching by Analysis, Classitication, and Synthesis, 
 of the letters, or in other words, by taking the letters 
 to pieces, arranging their separate parts, according to 
 their simplicity and resemblance, and then putting 
 them together again ; and independent writers upon 
 the subject have regarded it as a novelty, but such 
 teaching was certainly practised by celebrated 
 Writers between two and three hundred years ago, 
 and probably at an earlier period. On page 81 I give 
 a reduced facsimile of the Title-page of a Book 
 published in 1631. The quaint inscription reads 
 thus:— "THE LIVELY PORTRAITURE OF 
 JOHN DAVIES OF HEREFORD. The Writing 
 Schoolmaster, or The Anatomy of Faire Writing 
 Wherein is exactly expressed each severall Character, 
 together with other Rules and Documents coincident 
 to the Art of faire and speedy writing 1G31 ". 
 
 Many of the present plans of Ruling: lines to show 
 the relative height, breadth, and inclination of the 
 letters, etc., are also by no means new, and the 
 different movements of the hand and arm were 
 practised, and thoroughly explained, by some of the 
 Old Writing Masters. By singular good fortune I 
 have become the possessor of some very rare old Books, 
 etc., in which these matters are given very carefully ; 
 and it may be gratifying to Englishmen to know that 
 many highly-approved methods which have been 
 attributed to Continental or American invention, are 
 of purely English origin, although much credit is due 
 to both Continental and American productionB.
 
 Ltnrned and able men have often ridiculed the 
 idea of a Writing Master having a passionate love 
 for his Art, and wishing to gain for it a high place 
 in public favour, but surely it is a mistake to con- 
 sider Writing as unworthy of such regard, or to 
 suppose that it has developed itself^ without any- 
 body's skill and enthusiasm. Its progress has been 
 far too slow, in spite of all that has been done and 
 said in its favour, and if able, energetic, and 
 persevering efforts had not been made in its behalf, 
 it certainly would not have reached its present per- 
 fection. 
 
 Several Writing Masters of the 17th Century, 
 have been especially noticed as having been inflated 
 with vanity, remarkable for their bombast, and ab- 
 surdly desirous of proving that writing might be 
 treated Artistically and Scientifically. In defence 
 of any objectionable display of vanity and bombast 
 I would say nothing, but in behalf of a laudable desire 
 to simplify, develop, elevate, and extend the practice 
 of the Caligraphic Art, I would say much. By 
 dint of indefatigable industry, practice, and pains- 
 taking, combined with natural taste and ability, 
 some of the old Writing Masters acquired a degree 
 of skill and dexterity in the use of the Pen, which 
 can only be obtained under such conditions. They 
 preferred beauty to botch, clearness to illegibility, 
 ease to awkwardness. That which they did, they 
 did heartily, and did well. They had a good grasp 
 of sound principles, a degree of penetration superior 
 to that of their criticisers, they were two hundred 
 years in advance of their age, and their teaching has 
 signally triumphed ! 
 
 When a boy, I had the great advantage of receiving 
 instruction from the late Mr. Edward Edwards, of 
 Brighton, who was one of the best Writing Masters
 
 83
 
 84 
 
 that ever lived. His writing was exquisite, and hia 
 method of teaching was admirable. He produced 
 some splendid Penmen and some good teachers j and 
 if some of us did not do him much credit, the fault 
 was our own. Unfortunately I have not been able 
 to procure any of his best " specimens," which were 
 really marvellous, but some facsimiles of his ordinary 
 Writings, taken from Copybooks, are on pages 60, 62, 
 64 and 65. He was as unassuming as he was talented. 
 Had it not been for his modest and retiring ten- 
 dencies, he might have acquired a world-wide fame. 
 We were great friends in after years, and I have the 
 gratification of knowing that I did my best to further 
 his interests, and to introduce him to my friends and 
 the public ; but 1 often feel intensely grieved that a 
 man of such sterling worth should have been so little 
 appreciated. It is an interesting fact that my es- 
 teemed and talented friend, Mr. John A. Fowler, of 
 Brighton, by whom I have been mainly assisted in 
 the Illustrations of this book, was, like myself, a 
 pupil of Mr. Edwards, but at a rather earlier period, 
 of which we were not aware for some years, and not 
 till after we had commenced the preparation of the 
 specimens. It is also singular, that before I had the 
 pleasure of knowing him, Mr. Edwards was upon the 
 staff of the Brighton Proprietary School, where at 
 present an appointment is held by Mr. Fowler, who 
 combines the artistic and the Cruikshankian elements 
 with his caligraphic and general skill. Some of hia 
 pen and ink sketches and caricatures possess consider- 
 able merit.
 
 85 
 
 ODE TO THE PEN! 
 
 Pen ! thou o-pen-est an endless theme, 
 
 O'er which enraptured we may muse or dream 1 
 
 Poets, Philosophers, who teach in verse, 
 
 And Sages oft have thought well to rehearse, 
 
 In glowing words, or soft and silvery lay, 
 
 The varied forms and phases of thy sway ! 
 
 Thou hast most wond'rous power, indeed, Pen ! 
 
 And shapest oft the destinies of men ! 
 
 Thou raisest man his fellow-man above, 
 
 Thou causest strongest hate, and tenderest love. 
 
 War's bloody Declaration waits for thee — 
 
 Where force would fail, thou sett'st the captive free. 
 
 Thou givest immortality to thought ; 
 
 By thee to light the darkest deeds are brought. 
 
 Thy power works silently, where noisy speech 
 
 Would startle only, or would fail to reach ! 
 
 When coward tongues affrighted, silenced, quail. 
 
 When even courage trembles, and turns pale. 
 
 Bold Pen ! thou speakest out — thou deal'st a blow 
 
 Which may oppression in the dust lay low ! 
 
 Thou can'st with ease most flagrant wrongs redress ; 
 
 On thee de-^jen-dent is the mighty Press! 
 
 Electric wires traverse land and sea. 
 
 That at thy service they may ready be; 
 
 And when they've done their work, 'tis thon dost show 
 
 What 'tis the wires wish the world to know ! 
 
 Thou dost annihilate both time and space ; 
 
 The past, the distant, thou dost with us place. 
 
 Tliou mak'st the present in the future live, 
 
 Life to the dead thou hast the power to give ! 
 
 H
 
 86 
 
 Thou can'st with pleasnre weary hours beguile, 
 
 And oft through thee will fickle Fortune smile I 
 
 Thou can'st bring down, when thouwould'st thus behave, 
 
 A sire's " grey hairs with sorrow to the grave." 
 
 Thou can'st persuade ; the stubbornest of men 
 
 Have often proved more pliant than the Pen ! 
 
 Pen, thou can'st lie, and thou can'st mischief make ; 
 
 May'st thou lie still, when thou'd'st to lying take ! 
 
 Pen, strive with Penn, that murderous wars may cease, 
 
 Break each whole scheme which strives to break the peace.^ 
 
 Pen, thou can'st bring prosperity, when woe 
 
 And withering want are wont to say *' Won't go " I 
 
 Oft ignorance and vice before thee fly, 
 
 Whilst light and virtue thou dost place on high ! 
 
 Pen, thou hast power to soothe, or banish care ! 
 
 Pen, thou can'st scrawl, and make men curse and swear* 
 
 Cau'st make a smile play o'er a pensive face, 
 
 Or heaviest pangs in lightest hearts canst place. 
 
 Pen, trust thee always, surely we cannot; 
 
 Thou happiness can'st either make or blot 1 
 
 Pen ! thou instrument of weal and woe. 
 
 More of thy power for good we fain would know, 
 
 Not praise thee simply as we might — for might ; 
 
 But we would wish that all might write aright ! 
 
 We would that all might, through thy use, Pen ! 
 
 Be better writers, and be better men ! 
 
 We'd make each child familiar with thy sight. 
 
 Each right hand, too, should be a hand to write I 
 
 Kind Pen, through thee it frequently is said 
 
 That those before obscure " possess a head." 
 
 Would Shakespeare's genius strike all living men, 
 
 Had he but spoken — never used his Pen ? 
 
 With skill his thoughts and words he could combine, 
 
 Wrote many a quotable and pleasing line ! 
 
 By thee, Pen! his thoughts have been diffused, 
 
 And his choice words a myriad tongues have used 1 
 
 The World's Great Architect, Pen, used thee I 
 The Sacred Writings were, are, and shall be 1
 
 87 
 
 Through which we look beyond our care and strife, 
 
 To rest, peace, joy, bright Heaven— Eternal Lite ! 
 
 Pen ! thou can'st to man such pleasure give, 
 
 Not to be friend with thee is not to live ! 
 
 Some know thee but by name, and do thee hate — 
 
 Well may the State state they must change their state ! 
 
 Well pain-averting parents pleased may be. 
 
 To see their children taking pains with thee ! 
 
 Blessings through thee may be secured each day, 
 
 For which the pious may devoutly pray ; 
 
 And for which each in whose mind there may lurk 
 
 For good a longing, may in earnest work ! 
 
 Tell rich and poor, Pen ! that if they're wise, 
 
 A penny blessing they will ne'er despise ! 
 
 Thou to the student giv'st increase of brain — 
 Had'st thou been idle he had toiled in vain ! 
 Thou givest visual speech — without thee, some 
 Have words abundant, yet are paper-dumb ! 
 With thee, Pen ! what wondrous change is rung. 
 The speechless hand acquires a fluent tongue — 
 Or tongue of many tongues ; for often he 
 Who all perplexed with foreigners would be, — 
 Who, if he spoke to them, or heard them speak. 
 Would say, " Well, really this is worse than Greek ! " 
 One who would thus for speech embarrassed stand, 
 Oft finds tongue-truant words come well " to hand! " 
 His tiresome, tripping tongue tends but to tease, 
 Yet upon paper he can talk with ease ! 
 
 When Nature sparingly her gifts bestows — 
 The tongue doth fetter, and tiie ears doth close- 
 To those afflicted thus, the Deaf and Dumb, 
 Like friend from God, thou, blessed Pen, dost come ; 
 With pitying soul dost most benignly teach 
 The Art of Hearing, and the Art of Speech. 
 Thus high intelligence oft proudly reigns 
 In useless, buried, until Pen-reached brains ! 
 
 H 2
 
 88 
 
 The close observer too will quickly find 
 
 Thou art a friend and helper of the Blind : 
 
 They own thy worth, and thee they highly prize, 
 
 Though t's will tease them, and they've faulty i's— 
 
 To cross a t, or dot an i 'tis said, 
 
 May make a line too faulty to be read. 
 
 If some kind friend will read thy points and jokes, 
 
 The Blind will see them well as other folks ; 
 
 And thus the Blind, as all must be aware. 
 
 With those that see, thy benefits may share I 
 
 Thou dost an Artificial Memory give, 
 Preserving facts which do no longer live 
 In the mysterious chambers of the mind, 
 Or which, if there, are difiicult to find ! 
 When thou with active Memory art allied. 
 Thy power is marvellous — electric — wide 1 
 An ordinary mortal may, through thee, 
 In words, at least, possess ubiquity. 
 Even a cripple, or an invalid, 
 May wield a power which all the world shall heed, 
 And Might, untutored, may in terror crouch, 
 Before a pen-armed feebling of the couch ! 
 Thou mak'st a thinker, frequently we find, 
 A mighty Monarch of a Realm of Mind ! 
 A man unknown, may by a simple plan — 
 By writing notes — become a noted man ! 
 Notes in reply may come to him by scores. 
 And strangers to him wide may ope their doors ! 
 
 Thou dost perception quicken, for 'tis clear. 
 Thou dost present to sight much which the ear 
 In vain would strive to faithfully retain. 
 Or which, if held, would but perplex the brain ! 
 Thou dost with meek humility and care. 
 Note down amounts, names, details, when, and where ; 
 Important trifles, which as wondrous wise, 
 The haughty, bafiled brain, would fain despise I 
 The judgment, too, thou greatly dost befriend — 
 Increase of knowledge judgment doth extend.
 
 Thon dost in fact the vast experience give 
 
 Of those departed, unto those that live, 
 
 "While those that live, by an exchange of thought, 
 
 Granted by thee, are less by folly caught. 
 
 Our notions oft, through thee, are altered quite, 
 
 What we thought right, proves wrong — what wrong, proves 
 
 right. 
 That which decoyed, through thee may cause disgust ; 
 Things most relied in we may cease to trust. 
 What we regarded with the utmost dread. 
 Through thee we hope for, frequently, instead : 
 The weak prove valiant in the World's great strife, 
 And face the stern realities of life I 
 
 Thou dost decrease anxiety and toil, 
 Which man's enjoyment do so often spoil ! 
 Thou ease and rest to brain and limb dost give^ 
 Nor lett 'st the busy kill themselves to live 1 
 Often the man who slaves for scanty bread, 
 Might live in ease and luxury instead, 
 Were he but aided, mighty Pen, by thee. 
 To set his thoughts before his fellows, free ; 
 While many still engaged in honest toil. 
 Would build, or weave, or till the fruitful soil; 
 Or do their daily task, whate'er it be. 
 With happier hearts, if cheered, Pen ! by thee 1 
 Enjoy Annuities, some aged, might, 
 Were they not Fen-shunners, who cannot write I 
 
 O Pen, thou benefactor of mankind. 
 Though noble schemes have often been designed 
 For helping man — by means of given pelf. 
 Thou dost far more — teach him to help himself! 
 Such help degrades not, and a man may be 
 For self-help praised — although self-helped through thee I 
 The voice of independence is not hushed ; 
 
 , He seeks such help, and is not spirit-crushed 1 
 
 ^Oft useful men would twice as useful be, 
 Were they but used to rightly using thee ! 
 
 H 3
 
 90 
 
 They write, 'tis trne, and think they do their best, 
 And hints concerning thee would take as jest. 
 Their loss of power is equal though, 'tis plain, 
 To dreaded part paralysis of brain. 
 Thousands of men lose half their influence, quite, 
 Through shirking writing as their common right. 
 
 Aided by thee, a well-developed plan 
 Marks the reliable, quick, business man. 
 With clear far-sight he steadily can press 
 Forward, each day, towards his wished success ; 
 While those who slight thee. Pen, in wonder gaze, 
 With brain bewildered, in a planless maze ! 
 The keen accountant, by thy friendly aid. 
 Detects what's owing, sees what has been paid ; 
 Thus knows precisely how he's off for cash — 
 Which those who spurn thee douH — and go to smash I 
 With Pen-made chart the mariner doth gain 
 The power to cross the trackless, billowy main ; 
 And when at night on ocean's waste afar. 
 He finds a guide in the Pen-noted star ! 
 What Trade and Commerce owe, Pen, to thee, 
 Even thyself to tell would baffled be ! 
 The mightiest works of man's constructive art 
 To thee indebted are, at times, in part 
 For their development ; thou may'st suggest 
 The first idea, or substitute the best. 
 The ponderous engine vitalized by steam 
 For locomotion, and for miiny a scheme 
 Which favours Progress, Manufacture, Art — 
 The engine, strong, swift, docile, plays its part 
 In busiest places, and with busiest men 
 Guided and governed by the unseen Pen ! 
 
 Both men and Nations, by their actions teach, 
 Thy power is greater, very far, than speech. 
 Agreement, Bond, and Treaty, reasoning men. 
 At Wisdom's prompting, make with thee, O Pen I 
 And men and Nations, though with many flaws, 
 Aim at perfection, and have Written Laws !
 
 91 
 
 When Christ's great precepts sway the hearts of men, 
 
 The vanquished sword yields to the conquering Pen ; 
 
 Aided by thee, wise Nations plainly state 
 
 Their rankhng wrongs, and through thee Arbitrate ! 
 
 The page of History a blank would be, 
 
 And History fable, were it not for thee I 
 
 A written record may unseen remain 
 
 To some day startle the oblivious brain 1 
 
 Aided by thee the speaker plans his speech — 
 Teaches himself how others best to teach ; 
 Displays originality, or by thee taught, 
 With skill avails himself of other's thought ! 
 The poet, burning with poetic fire, 
 Catches each thought-spark ere it can expire. 
 To thee each Laureate humbly bows the knee, 
 And breathes, " Pen ! I owe my fame to thee !" 
 Aided by thee, the wit intrudes for fun 
 An unexpected and sm-prising pun. 
 And the word-painter with artistic skill, 
 Making things lovely far more lovely still ; 
 Charms the rapt reader with his wondrous power, 
 And into moments turns the lagging hour. 
 When fancy soars with unrestrained wing — 
 When fiction, facts in pleasing guise doth bring 
 Before the wayward, or vivacious mind. 
 Thou thy full share of gratitude should'st find ! 
 
 When Music holds enthralled the enraptured soul, 
 As Music doth from Torrid Zone to Pole ; 
 Pen ! forgotten Pen, how few there be 
 Who breathe one word of gratitude to thee. 
 And yet if Handel thee had handled not, 
 His choice conceptions would have been forgot- 
 ten surely — each Composer's brain. 
 Inspired by Music, would have worked in vain ; 
 And common mortals ne'er those joys had known 
 Which Music yields through thee, and thee alone '
 
 92 
 
 Through thee the jolted traveller in the train, 
 Obtains the power of pocketing his brain ; 
 And though his writing looks a spidery scrawl. 
 He much prefers it thus to none at all ! 
 The grave philosopher, with thought-knit brow, 
 With thee tracks causes, and with thee shows how 1 
 Reliability, with many men, 
 Is mainly traceable to thee, Pen ! 
 And even honesty, with some, we find. 
 To thee, Pen ! is virtually consigned. 
 Some men their debts would really never know, 
 If thou didst not remind them what they owe. 
 Oft one who lives as though he had no goal 
 To strive to reach, to energize his soul ; 
 Woiild start affrighted if he could but see 
 His mind's true outline as portrayed by thee ; 
 Would rouse to duty, make for life a plan. 
 And reach the moral stature of a man ! 
 Those once despised, who loved to drink and fight, 
 Through thee have changed, Pen 1 and now do right 
 (write) 1 
 
 The mental calmness which thou canst bestow. 
 Those who have shared it only really know ; 
 Lacking thy aid, the mind may feel distressed 
 With anxious, ceaseless worry, and unrest : 
 By thee anxiety is put to flight. 
 And the mind revels in serene delight. 
 The heart, when bursting with some pent-up grief, 
 Finds vent through thee, and gains at once reUef ; 
 Oh, such relief as those can only know 
 Who've been the mirth-masked sorrowing sons of woe ! 
 The captive sighing for his much-loved Pen, 
 Mimics thy markings in his human den ; 
 And the relief thou giv'st, in nail-wrought scrawls 
 He shows most plainly on his prison walls ; 
 And when the captive, or his soul, has fled, 
 His thoughts, free ever, are distinctly read.
 
 93 
 
 No one who knows thy worth needs to be told 
 That thou, Pen ! may'st be a Pen of gold ; 
 But, Pen, beware, or possibly thou wilt, 
 By striving to be gold, prove only gilt (guilt). 
 Acquaintanceship with thee a rogue may rue — 
 May forge a cheque, and forge his fetters too. 
 Bold Pen, from scrutiny thou dost not shrink, 
 Though what thou dost is oft as black as ink. 
 It often happens that dishonest men 
 Regard as their best colleague, a steel Pen I 
 Alas ! how often too with foolish skill, 
 Wrong-hearted writers giVe themselves ache will (a 
 quill) ! 
 
 Fair Ada's hand makes sweeter seem her face 
 When thee, Pen ! she sways with ease and grace, 
 And Cupid oft, when he would pierce a heart, 
 Takes thee, Pen ! to point his amorous dart ! 
 The roughest hand that e'er touched rope or spade, 
 By thee, Pen ! is still more manly made. 
 Skilled in thy use, the owner shows combined 
 The man of muscle and the man of mind. 
 Were Venus, or Adonis, Hercules, 
 Or any classic famed one we might please 
 Truly personified in any friend. 
 With admiration, we should pity blend ; 
 If such an one, by chance it came to light, 
 Had never claimed of thee the right to write ! 
 
 Good Pen ! thou shouldst to every child be dear, 
 Though now too oft a thing of hate and fear. 
 When far from thee, the child will blithely play — 
 It smiles continuously when it's miles away (it smiles 
 
 away). 
 Oft would a sturdy man much rather fight, 
 Or lose a meal, or toil with all his might — 
 Do almost anything, except. Pen, be 
 Compelled to try his skill in ruling thee ; 
 Although, Pen ! thou mightst him so beMend, 
 If but to thee his hand he would extend 1
 
 94 
 
 Pen, write not rashly ; let not e'en a line 
 That thou wouldst e'er recall, be ever thine. 
 When thou art courteous. Pen, how oft we find 
 Thy grace will make an impress on the mind ; 
 Which e'en in after years we there may trace, 
 Which the rough hand of time can ne'er efface 1 
 Skill in thy use, with tenderness combined, 
 Makes a kind man a credit to mankind ! 
 Thou friend of friendship ! those whom space doth part, 
 Through thee companionise in thought and heart ! 
 
 A " difference" oft is seen 'twixt those once fond ; 
 From obvious cause, they ceased to "correspond ! '* 
 Life would seem living death, oft, but for thee ; 
 For severed friends would seem as dead to be. 
 Yes ! but for thee, " farewell," the last fond word 
 By parting friends exchanged, and sadly heard. 
 Would sound as awful as the friend's death-doom, — 
 Like the voice echoing in a fresh-made tomb ; 
 But with the sadness is a thought that's bright — 
 Before the " farewell " is the pledge, " I'll write ! " 
 Oh, how thy words can make the heart rejoice, 
 Like the loved accents of a loving voice ! 
 To the besieged, sad city, what a boon 
 Is the Pen-product-freighted, frail Balloon I 
 The once despised, abortive, useless toy, 
 Whate'er news bringing, is received with joy ; 
 And when despatched, Hope's banner is unfurled, 
 For tidings now will reach the outer world ! 
 Down the deep coal-mine, where the light of day 
 Is never seen : by the lamp's feeble ray, 
 To men forgotten by their fellow-men, 
 Thou'rt like a ministering angel, Pen ! 
 When mountain billows crush the hopeless ship- 
 When words are still-born on the quivering lip — 
 Wlien Death in triumph rides the crested wave- 
 When all wait briefly for a watery grave ; 
 The noble Captain, cool, calm, and resigned. 
 With duty, home, and dear ones in his min^
 
 95 
 
 Flies to his Pen, and writes a few short lines, 
 
 Which in a well-corked bottle he consigns 
 
 To his relentless foe, which, friend to thee, 
 
 Permits uninjured on her breast to be — 
 
 When the sad tidings reach those wished, — ah ! then ! 
 
 A thousand pensive thanks are thine, Pen I 
 
 Often thy work receives a larger share 
 Of thought, attention, and protective care 
 Than poor humanity. Some common man 
 Replaceable, may do the best he can : 
 Escape, if possible, or else expire, 
 Or be half-roasted, should there be a fire ; 
 But thy rare, precious work, is safely kept, 
 The man is sacrificed, and dies unwept. 
 With fire indignant. Pen, arouse and aim 
 At once to terminate this burning shame ! 
 When with sad tear-dimmed eye, the loving wife 
 Sees off by rail her partner dear for life ; 
 The line of Railway seems her bane to be. 
 But yet, Pen ! she craves a line from thee ! 
 Thy friend, the Postman, Pen, when he appears, 
 How he awakens mingled hopes and fears ; 
 Oft to the letter-box we rush in haste. 
 And find but rubbish has been in it placed ! 
 
 There is, unhappily, a class of men 
 Thou dost annoy most terribly, Pen ! 
 When, by mere chance, or by approved design. 
 Thou sendest them an uninvited line, 
 They show their teeth, and growl like Polar Bears, — 
 Would the bears' region of abode were theirs ! 
 We should be rid of them, and they then would be, 
 From such annoyances as thine quite free. 
 There, let them go, their snow-clad way to trace, 
 Where they '11 be welcomed with a fond embrace ! 
 
 There are whose minds on gloom seem ever bent. 
 See not a pun — except in punishment, 
 Whom liveliest wit a smile can ne'er provoke,
 
 96 
 
 And if they lived oah-age,\70-ali never see a joke (age oak) 
 To them, the knowledge, Pen, we'd fain extend 
 That puns, like sheep, in harmlessness are penned! 
 They would be better men, indeed, by half, 
 Could we but tickle them, and make them laugh ! 
 
 Oh, with what ease, and with what charming grace 
 Thy beauteous forms, thou, skilful Pen, cau'st trace 1 
 When in best fashion thou perform'st thy part 
 Thou canst produce a genuine Work of Art I 
 A Work of Art as useful as 'tis fair — 
 A Work of Art unfortunately rare ! 
 Though Progress boasts the great advance she's made, 
 Thy movement often has been retrograde ; 
 But let us hope thy friends will so contrive, 
 That all thy wonted spirit shall revive. 
 As Art's true lover with enraptured eye 
 In a choice xncture beauties doth descry ; 
 Or with delight extols with plaudits just 
 The living merits of a marble bust ; 
 So may he, too, with highly-cultured taste, 
 Admire thy work, Pen ! bold, beauteous, chaste I 
 As Arab loves his fair, fleet, faithful steed, 
 So love we thee, Pen ! ay, more, indeed ; 
 By thee from desert we are borne away. 
 To the bright regions of eternal day ! 
 Events, and objects, landscapes, sky and sea. 
 Are oft portrayed more rapidly by thee 
 With writing's pictureless, yet picturing aid. 
 Than sketch was e'er by quickest artist made ! 
 
 Pen ! thou dost oft the pencil's labour share, 
 In outline rough, or detailed picture rare ; 
 A few such strokes, with thine own work combined, 
 May save a volume, and a welcome find 1 
 With conjurer's skill small things thou can'st expand, 
 Oh, what long columns come from thy " short-hand ! " 
 'Twere well if all short-hands, of all short folks at school, 
 Were made obedient to thy short-hand rule ! 
 And for adults the need of it is strong- 
 How many men do now for •* short-hand " long.'
 
 97 
 
 Pen, be not slothful — honour doth attach 
 To writing well, and writing with despatch ; 
 Consider well the evils of delay ; 
 It harm thyself, or correspondent may. 
 For notes and letters, Pen, show due, respect, 
 And do not treat them with uncouth neglect. 
 Just let thy fancy give to each a chair, 
 See not the writing but the writer there. 
 The seated group will fill thee with surprise, 
 Thou wilt perceive a point few realize, — •' 
 That letters are not merely written scraps. 
 But words of loved, feared, reverenced ones, perhaps ! 
 Thou would'st not silently receive, depend, 
 A welcome visit from a much-loved friend. 
 Nor would thy words, like treacherous traitors, go 
 When most required to foil a furious foe. 
 Nor would'st thou have it said that it appeared 
 Thou 'dst learned to slight one whom thou once revered, 
 Eegard all letters, then, perceptive Pen, 
 As written representatives of men ! 
 What false conjectures, doubts, and gi'oundless fears, 
 What sad misgivings, anguish, sighs, and tears, 
 What blighted hopes, what withered joys there be, 
 Through thoughtless tardiness in using thee ! 
 'Tis cruel oft thy message to delay. 
 And kind, most kind, to speed it on its way ! 
 What pity, scorn, derision, and contempt 
 Do some men earn, who think themselves exempt 
 From such regardings of their fellow-men. 
 Through needless neghgence of thee, Pen 1 
 A line from thee unsent, or sent too late. 
 May make esteem be changed for loathing hate I 
 
 Pen ! we would that all with thee allied, 
 Eemembering those who suddenly have died. 
 Leaving affairs in a chaotic state, 
 Through slighting thee, until, alas ! too late
 
 Thus having caused their friends unneeded care, 
 
 Which it was never dreamed they 'd have to share— 
 
 Pen I we would that all allied with thee, 
 
 Through these grave facts the evils thus should see 
 
 Of such delay in calling in thy aid, 
 
 Where Will or Guide-notes should at once be made, 
 
 And seeing these vast ills, we'd have them be 
 
 From like neglect of duty wholly free ! 
 
 Let forethought, order, promptness, and despatch, 
 
 To thee and thine invariably attach ; 
 
 Let all thou needest ready be at hand. 
 
 That in unwilling idleness thou ne'er may'st stand. 
 
 And may the sight of thee to all suggest 
 
 All that do good should always do their best I 
 
 Some men, alas ! consider thy chief use 
 Is to supply contemptible excuse 
 For not performing duties which they owe 
 To those around them, as full well they know. 
 With bold untruth they perpetrate the crime 
 Of pleading want of power, or want of time. 
 Although a blush long from their cheeks has fled, 
 With shame tjheir blackest writing becomes read ! 
 
 Pen, be considerate, do not be a pest, 
 Be not intrusive ; put not to the test 
 By needless work the patience of your friends, 
 For too much writing to a nuisance tends ! 
 Pray, waste not paper, Pen, but warning take 
 From those who ink a quire when they inquiry make 1 
 Make not too freely promises to send 
 A line to stranger, business-man, or friend. 
 Remember, Pen, thou might'st not keep thy word — 
 How very sad if such a thing occurred ! 
 Pen ! thou promises should'st never trust, 
 As some regard them, simply like the crust 
 Of pie — made only to be broken ; so 
 Sand a reminder, let it quickly go 1
 
 99 
 
 Pen, keep a Diary — no excuses — hush I 
 Write it and read it — and admire or blush 
 Kemember, Pen, thy private notes should be — 
 If strictly private — under lock and key. 
 
 Be not too proud, Pen ! for thou wilt find 
 Thou art in truth a servant of the mind — 
 And mind means Memory ; thus all thinking men 
 Owe more to Memory than to thee, Pen ! 
 But, Pen, we wish that all may value thee, 
 And that gi-eat good, •' owed to thee, Pen,'' may be ! 
 
 ^^yr^y^'^^^^^^y. 
 
 '-'^mm^ 
 
 The Ode to the Pen ha^ been learned throiigliout 
 by some of my Memory pupils, and it has been in- 
 troduced as a recitation ; and portions of it are often 
 selected by Penmen, for specimens of their handi- 
 work. 
 
 It can be given from memory straight through ; in 
 numbered sections, or in numbered lines; and by 
 using the principles suggested in " Stokes on Mem- 
 ory " any other piece of composition can be mastered 
 in the same way. 
 
 Learn a part of the Ode from the print, and read 
 it mentally from any written style in this book 
 which you wish to imitate. 
 
 Mental Writing Exercises are worthy of your 
 special attention. See page 206. 
 
 I 2
 
 100 
 
 THE ART OF USING WRITING. 
 
 The Art of Writing is often taught without any 
 accompanying suggestions upon the art of using it ; 
 and many people who can write, are comparatively 
 little benefited by it. The Art of using writing 
 should be understood, explained, and inculcated by 
 all teachers, and should be carefully studied and 
 applied by all learners. The Art of using writing 
 consists in preserving facts and thoughts for our own 
 advantage, and in communicating facts and thoughts 
 to others. In the first instance, writing is used as a 
 substitute for Memory, and in the second, as a sub- 
 stitute for speech. 
 
 Writing should be used when the Memory would 
 fail to retain a fact or thought worthy of retention. 
 
 When written proof is desirable in addition to 
 remembrance. 
 
 When a fact or thought can, with advantage, be 
 communicated in writing ; 
 
 And when a question can be asked in writing with 
 advantage ; and asking a question is communicating 
 the fact, that we wish to know something. 
 
 It should further be observed, ihat to employ 
 writing unnecessarily or objectionably, is not to use 
 it, but to waste it, misapply it, or abuse it. 
 
 Skill in the art of using writing, necessitates 
 vigilant watch for, and careful reflection upon, the 
 need of writing; involves a knowledge of kindred 
 arts ; and requires the possession of proper appliances 
 and facilities. 
 
 Inattention, carelessness, procrastination, forget- 
 fulness, or want of forethought, may render the 
 use of the art of Writing imperfect or impossible, so 
 should be guarded against.
 
 101 
 
 Deficiency of ideas, or want of knowledge of gram- 
 mar, composition, spelling, punctuation, arithmetic, 
 bookkeeping, etc., frequently causes imperfection or 
 negligence in the use of writing ; so should be reme- 
 died. 
 
 Want of general preparation, want of arrangement 
 for time to write, and of place in which to write, and 
 want of handiness of writing materials, are also com- 
 mon causes of the neglect of the use of writing, and 
 should be ayoided. 
 
 Alphabetical and numerical arrangements, indices, 
 classifications, lists, datings, headings, divisions, un- 
 derlining, written reminders, pocket-books, memo- 
 randum books, account books, address books, diaries, 
 etc., are often essential to efficiency in the art of 
 usmg writing. 
 
 The Art of using writing can never be fully advan- 
 tageous without a certain amount of skill and practice 
 in the art of combining with it the judicious use of 
 the Memory. That which is written should be as it 
 were added to the mind, rather than placed away 
 from it ; the fact of its existence should be remem- 
 bered, although the details may be forgotten ; it 
 should be as nearly as possible part of our mentality, 
 and it should always be ready at command. 
 
 In private memoranda, to write a fact or thought, 
 and not to know where it has been placed, is to lose it; 
 and to write it and to forget that it has been written, 
 is to bury it. Any appliance or device is good which 
 facilitates reference to that which is written, or which 
 places it advantageously at the command of the eye, 
 or of the mind's eye, or Memory! and anything 
 which prevents or lessens the ready use of the eye, 
 or of the mind's eye, or Memory, is bad, and its use 
 should be discontinued or avoided. Many habits 
 practised and propagated from generation to gener- 
 
 I 3
 
 102 
 
 ation by private individuals, business firms, and 
 public bodies, are in direct opposition to the require- 
 ments of the mind, and to facility of action ; involving 
 a large amount of unnecessary labour, and securing 
 much less good than might be obtained by other 
 means. Sometimes, for instance, the habit of filing 
 various letters and documents, though it may have 
 the credit of being a very careful, orderly, and pru- 
 dential practice, is about the worst plan that could 
 be adopted, as it ma}'- involve damage, dirt, or de- 
 struction ; may cause the separation of papers which 
 ehould be kept together, and may make reference to 
 them difficult, or in some cases impossible ; while 
 the use of paper-fasteners, clips, and alphabetical 
 letter - cases, or paper-boxes, would preserve them in 
 perfect, clearly-classified, and get-at-able condition. 
 Files may, of course, in man}' cases, be of very great 
 service. 
 
 Again, in many instances, important papers which 
 Are filed, or which are kept together most methodic- 
 ally with tapes, paper-fasteners, etc., and are de- 
 posited in handy and seen places, are rendered of 
 little or no value, because notliing is done to extract, 
 concentrate, and utilise their contents. A few short 
 extracts from them, entered together in a suitable 
 Booh, would present their contents at a glance, and 
 would suggest and facilitate means for turning them 
 to practical advantage. 
 
 Omissions of this kind are to be traced with 
 writers of all grades, from the schoolboy to the 
 Statesman. 
 
 A great many people consider it 'proper to be too 
 busy to do things i^roperhj^ especially in matters re- 
 lating to Writing. It is true that formality and 
 Erecision which would occasion delay, would often 
 inder business : but it is also true that much of the
 
 103 
 
 dash and display of •* business," so frequently ad- 
 mired and extolled, are merely the results of a bad 
 system. It is quite possible to be constantly occu- 
 pied, and yet to achieve nothing, or next to nothing ; 
 and there may be an immense amount of hurry, anx- 
 iety, and fatigue, without any corresponding advant- 
 ages. With a better system, more real business 
 might be done with infinitely less effort. It often 
 happens, that by over-anxiety to secure fresh or 
 increased business, that which comes to hand and 
 which might readily be developed, is neglected and 
 allowed to slip. The fresh, wished-for business may 
 never be seen ; and the neglected business may be 
 irrecoverably lost. Sometimes, however, a fresh ar- 
 rangement would place matters in a satisfactory 
 condition, in which case the sooner the change is 
 made the better ; no better time than at once ! If 
 the method employed be had, improve it ; if it be 
 good, but imperfectly carried out, let its working be 
 more thorough ; and if an increase of writing power 
 be required, let it be adequately supplied. 
 
 Assistance in writing is much more generally 
 needed than is usually recognised. Private individ- 
 uals allow friendly correspondence to get in arrears; 
 public men become wearied and oppressed with the 
 epistolary work accompanying their other duties, or 
 conduct their correspondence in an imperfect and 
 contempt-creating manner ; while millions of pounds 
 sterling are annually lost in the commercial world by 
 false economy in Clerkship. 
 
 Many friendly and general letters of private indi- 
 viduals, and of public men, might be written at 
 dictation by a relative, friend, or employe of the 
 sender, and would simply require perusal and signa- 
 ture ; or, a relative, friend, or employe, might wrire 
 in behalf of the sender, in his own name, or append-
 
 104 
 
 ing name or initials after the name of the sender. 
 A few words written in the left-hand top corner of 
 a letter received, or even a letter, or a figure or two, 
 or a sign, may be sufficient to indicate to an experi- 
 enced representative the substance and style of 
 reply ; and the use of shorthand is very valuable in 
 such cases. 
 
 Whoever is conscious of his correspondence being 
 neglected, should make immediate effort to secure 
 help. It is singular to notice how many men holding 
 important positions, unnecessarily allow their Corres- 
 pondence to worry, baffle, or disgrace them. Many 
 a man who would be horrified at the idea of not 
 keeping a proper number of indoor and outdoor 
 servants, who has first-class tutors for his boys, and 
 talented governesses for his girls, and who prides 
 himself upon the splendour and comfort of his 
 household arrangements, will neither keep a Sec- 
 retary, nor anybody of inferior position, capable of 
 efficiently relieving him of his Correspondence. 
 
 Printing, lithography, etc., should be used at dis- 
 cretion, as means for lessening the amount of writ- 
 ing, by many who rarely, if ever, avail themselves 
 of the facilities thus afforded. 
 
 Many people who neither require a Clerk, nor a 
 Secretary, but who need occasional or frequent as- 
 sistance with their writing, have no relative or 
 friend who can help them, and they do not know 
 whom to employ. We require the establishment of 
 a new kind of occupation, that of the "Ready 
 Writer." Ready Writers, or persons prepared to 
 write at a moment's notice, and to undertake various 
 kinds of Writing, should be abundant everywhere, 
 and should be as easily found as Printers, and Litho- 
 graphers. 1 am confident that if this suggestion 
 were acted upon, partial, if not entire employment
 
 105 
 
 might be found for many thousands, much to the 
 advantage of the community generally, as well as to 
 the Writers in particular. 
 
 The " Letter Writer " to be seen seated in the 
 streets of Rome, Naples, Seville, and in various 
 towns and cities in Spain, Italy, Turkey, and other 
 countries, is regarded as a very useful "institution,* 
 even to this day ; and although his services are unfor- 
 tunately required more because of the ignorance of 
 the people than for other reasons, we should not allow 
 that fact to make us disdainfully regard the modi- 
 fied introduction of his calling in this and other 
 highly-educated countries. The "Ready Writer'* 
 need not be in the open street, although if useful 
 there, his presence would be desirable ; and the 
 greater part of his employment would arise from 
 haste and pressure of business, often from the intel- 
 ligence rather than from the ignorance of his patrons. 
 
 On page 106 there is a Dallas-type reduction of 
 the ''Letter Writer, Seville": by J. Phillip, from an 
 engraving in the Art Journal^ inserted by arrange- 
 ment with Messrs, Virtue & Co., proprietors. The 
 engraving, from which the reduction is taken is 
 9f X 7^ inches in size. The elegantly-attired lady, 
 w^ith fan in hand, to the left, is confidentially 
 dictating a letter — possibly a love letter — to the 
 Writer, who with hand to ear is endeavouring to 
 catch her words ; while the boy to the right looks 
 at the supposed man of genius with wonder, not 
 unmixed with fear, as he catches the dress of his 
 mother, who has brought a letter to be read. 
 
 A FEW HINTS ON LETTER WRITIN-Q, 
 
 Keep all your writing materials at hand, and in good 
 condition. Do not neglect your Correspondence.
 
 106
 
 107 
 
 Be prompt, be brief, write legibly. Classify your 
 
 ideas, write in paragraphs, and avoid postscripts. 
 Inclose a stamp, or a stamped addressed envelope 
 for a reply, when desirable. 
 
 Write as early in the day as possible, and have the 
 letters posted immediately. 
 
 As a rule write your full address, and sign your 
 name in full, in your letters, and address the letters 
 you send in full. Innumerable unlocked for delays 
 and blunders arise from neglect of these little 
 matters. Letters get put aside because the full 
 address of the writer has been mislaid or forgotten ; 
 a gentleman is addressed as "Miss," and a young 
 lady is addressed •' Esquire," because initials only 
 have been prefixed to Surname ; and a letter may go 
 to half a dozen towns of the same name because the 
 name of the County has been omitted. Very fre- 
 quently ladies would do well to prefix " Miss " or 
 " Mrs." to their name, as a correspondent might not 
 otherwise know in which way to address them. 
 
 Write " Inclosure," or the number of inclosures, 
 when important papers or things are inclosed ; they 
 will then be more likely to be noticed, or if omitted by 
 mistake, they will be written for. 
 
 Keep a copy of important letters. 
 
 Before you destroy an envelope, look inside it to 
 see if anything is there ; and look at the letter it 
 contained to see if the address is properly given ; if 
 not, the post mark on the envelope may be of ser- 
 vice. Keep the letters of each correspondent fas- 
 tened together. 
 
 Do not preserve that which is valueless. 
 
 Destroy all rubbish, do not swerve, 
 But useful things with care preserve I
 
 108 
 
 Enter the names and addresses of all your corres- 
 pondents Alphabetically, in an Address Book. 
 
 If you cannot answer a letter properly at once, 
 write acknowledging its receipt immediately, and 
 answer it as soon as possible. 
 
 When you send anything by book post, write 
 " From " inside the wrapper, and add your name and 
 address, as recommended by the postal authorities. 
 
 BEWARE ! 
 
 A dangerous habit is pocketing letters, 
 
 Of which people often become the forgetters ! 
 
 WHEN TO USE CAPITALS. 
 
 To remember when capitals ought to be used, 
 Think of CAPITALS thus, and you'll not be confused, 
 The Acrostic in Prose will your Memory aid, 
 If to its suggestions attention be paid I 
 
 C — Commence sentences, lines of Poetry, Maxims, In- 
 scriptions, Quotations, etc, 
 
 A — Almighty, God, Lord, Deity, etc. 
 
 P — People's Names, and Names of Places. 
 
 1 — 1,0! Oh I 
 
 T — Things of great importance, as " Telegraph Office." 
 
 A — Abbreviations, as A.D. for Anno Domini. 
 
 L — Lordship, His Lordship, My Lord, Her Majesty, Hic 
 Royal Highness. 
 
 S — Sir, Madam, Mr., Esq. 
 
 POINTERS. 
 
 Sometimes a hand roughly sketched in a letter is 
 useful in directing attention to a change of address,
 
 109 
 
 or something else of importance, and may save 
 writing a paragraph. 
 
 PENS, INK, PAPER, Etc. 
 
 Facilities for Writing should be much more gene- 
 rally in use than at present. Every house, and every 
 room in every house, and everybody everywhere 
 should be supplied with writing materials. A small, 
 inexpensive, clean, usable supply may easily be had ; 
 and I believe the day will come when a man's in- 
 telligence and civilization will often be gauged by the 
 condition of his writing materials. Bad pens, thick 
 ink, and a general absence of writing requirements, 
 will not be considered respectable. 
 
 Those who use my Pocket Memoriser may easily 
 fit it with some of the essentials of a writing-case, by 
 placing postage and receipt stamps, blotting paper, 
 and a steel pen, in an envelope, and envelopes and 
 paper inside. 
 
 Pocket pen-holders, and pocket ink-bottles can be 
 had in great variety. 
 
 SONG OF THE UNPREPARED WRITER. 
 Air. — " The Dutchman's Lee-tle Bog^ 
 
 Oh ! where is the paper ? — Oh ! where is the pen ? 
 
 The ink too, Oh ! where can it be? — 
 Where is an envelope ? — What's the address ? — 
 
 Where shall I a Postage Stamp see ? 
 
 E
 
 110 
 
 MAKE A LIST. 
 
 Make a list, but list to me: 
 
 Be sure what's on your list you see. 
 
 Or valueless your list will be ! 
 
 Simple as the above suggestion may seem, it is not 
 an unimportant one. Wiiena number of things have 
 to be attended to, many people allow them to arise in 
 the mind separately, and at different times, without 
 attempting to collect and arrange them, although a 
 list might be made with ease, and might be of great 
 advantage if referred to. Others make a list most 
 carefully, but either forget to take it with them, or 
 take it with them and forget to look at it. Even 
 when Writing is nominally relied upon, the Memory 
 must be called more or less into action ; forgetting 
 only one thing — a List — may involve the forgetting 
 of fifty things connected with it. One of the great 
 advantages of the Mnemonic Art is the facility it 
 affords for making mental lists, which are often pre- 
 ferable to written ones. Much ordinary thinking 
 can be reduced to list work : the things to pack in a 
 portmanteau — the people we have to call upon — the 
 facts we wish to name — the scraps of information 
 we receive ; and innumerable other matters should 
 often be in List form, either written or mental, or 
 both. The easily acquired Mnemonic power of 
 reliably fixing in the Memory a list of half a dozen 
 topics for a speech, in less than two minutes, is an 
 inestimable boon to the Public Speaker; while the 
 use of a written list would be humiliating. 
 
 VARIOUS STYLES OF WRITING. 
 It is interesting to notice the various styles of
 
 Ill 
 
 writing adopted by those of different occupations and 
 professions, or produced by the habits and physical 
 and mental peculiarities of the writers. Many 
 people are remarkably clever at judging the pursuits 
 and characteristics of unseen writers, by scrutinizing 
 their writing. Frequently mental or physical pe- 
 culiarities can be discerned, combined with tho 
 occupation of the writer. Sometimes the indicationa 
 are very simple. 
 
 It is impossible to name every style of Writing 
 here, but I have drawn up the following classified 
 list, to one or more of which Classes every hand will 
 be found to belong. 
 
 1. Ladies'. 
 
 2. Gentlemen's. 
 
 3. Masculine, 
 
 4. Feminine. 
 6. Boys'. 
 
 6. Girls'. 
 
 7. Business. 
 
 8. Clerks'. 
 
 9. Official. 
 
 10. Telegraphic. 
 
 11. Professional. 
 
 12. Legal. 
 
 13. Clerical. 
 
 14. Medical. 
 
 15. Scholastic. 
 
 16. Governess's. 
 
 17. Schoolboy. 
 
 18. Six Lesson. 
 
 19. Reporters'. 
 
 20. Aristocratic. 
 
 21. Democratic. 
 
 22. Learned. 
 
 23. Illiterate. 
 
 24. Shoppy. 
 
 25. Continental, 
 
 26. American. 
 
 27. Left-handed. 
 
 28. Varied-sloped. 
 
 29. Goose-quill. 
 
 30. Metallic. 
 
 31. Copper-plate. 
 
 32. Skewer. 
 
 33. Bold. 
 
 34. Microscopic. 
 
 35. Angular. 
 
 36. Saw-tooth. 
 
 37. Round smaU. 
 
 38. Oval. 
 
 39. Square. 
 
 40. Flourishing. 
 
 41. Perpendicular. 
 
 42. Back-handed. 
 
 43. Hair-line. 
 
 44. Heavy-handed. 
 
 K 2
 
 112 
 
 45. Light and heavy. 
 
 46. Mixed. 
 
 47. Good. 
 
 48. Bad. 
 
 49. "Awful." 
 
 50. Plain. 
 
 51. Fancy. 
 
 52. Ornamental. 
 
 53. Pretty. 
 
 54. Beautiful. 
 
 55. Neat. 
 
 56. Slovenly. 
 
 57. Careful, 
 
 58. Careless. 
 
 59. Ungainly. 
 
 60. Fluent. 
 
 61. Running. 
 
 62. Flying. 
 
 63. Drive along. 
 
 64. Stylish. 
 
 65. Dashing. 
 
 66. Creeping. 
 
 67. Offhand. 
 
 68. Characteristic. 
 
 69. Imitative. 
 
 70. Eccentric. 
 
 71. Mongrel. 
 
 72. Kespec table. 
 
 73. Venerable. 
 
 74. Blind. 
 
 75. Palsied 
 
 76. Scratchy. 
 
 77. Spider-crawl. 
 
 78. Straggling. 
 
 79. Cramped. 
 
 80. Crowded. 
 
 81. Broken-backed, 
 
 82. Disjointed. 
 
 83. Spasmodic. 
 
 84. Irregular. 
 
 85. Symmetrical. 
 
 86. Easy. 
 
 87. Awkward. 
 
 88. Hurried. 
 
 89. Formal. 
 
 90. Firm. 
 
 91. Shaky. 
 
 92. Nervous. 
 
 93. Railway Carriage 
 
 94. Dissipated. 
 
 95. Undecided. 
 
 96. Mean. 
 
 97. Insignificant. 
 
 98. Smeary. 
 
 99. Illegible. 
 100. Guessable. 
 
 MICROSCOPIC, LARGE, AND PECULIAR 
 WRITING. 
 
 Apart from its utility the Art of Writing often 
 affords much amusement and gratification to those 
 who practise it, and to others who are interested in
 
 113 
 
 the specimens produced. Some astonishing perfor- 
 mances have been accomplished with the pen, espec- 
 ially in the way of Microscopic Writing. Tjie 
 celebrated Writing Master, Peter Bales, wrote the 
 Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Command- 
 ments within the space of a silver penny. This 
 remarkable Manuscript he inclosed in a Gold and 
 Crystal Ring, and presented it to Queen Elizabeth, 
 who often wore it, and introduced it to the notice of 
 her visitors. Bales presented a very powerful mag- 
 nifying glass with the Ring, by means of which the 
 Writing could be read with ease. 
 
 One of the most extraordinary Writers that ever 
 lived was the wonderful little man, Matthew Buch- 
 inger, who was born without hands or legs, in 1674. 
 He was only twenty-nine inches high, was married 
 four times, and was the father of eleven children. 
 He was a good musician, and could play several in- 
 struments of different kinds — drum, hautboy, "strange 
 flute in consort with the bagpipe," dulcimer, trumpet, 
 etc., having himself designed the means with which 
 to play them; was an expert conjuror, good draughts- 
 man, and both a quick and a painstaking writer. A 
 copy of his likeness, executed by himself, is on page 
 114. It is a Dallastype reproduction of a portion of 
 his''f uU length'portrait, and is precisely the size of the 
 original. His wig is composed of Writing, and con- 
 tains the Prayer Book version of the following 
 Psalms : — 
 
 121st. " I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills," etc 
 
 127th. " Except the Lord build the house," etc. 
 
 128th. " Blessed are all they that fear the Lord," 
 etc. 
 
 130th. " Out of the depths have I called unto thee, 
 Lord," etc. 
 
 146 th. " Praise ye the Lord," etc. 
 
 K 3
 
 114 
 
 Matthew Bnchinfrcr, the handless Microscopic Writer. Fac- 
 Bimile of his own work. The wifj is composed of writing, and 
 contains Seven Psalms, and the Lord's Prayer.
 
 115 
 
 149th. '* fling unto the Lord a new song," etc. 
 
 150th. " praise God in His holiness," etc. 
 Also the Lord's Prayer. The latter occupies four 
 curls, and commences on the left shoulder. Buch- 
 inger is said by some to have died in 1722, but my 
 very rare proof engraving gives date of Writing, 
 1724. He executed some other Microscopic speci- 
 mens, somewhat similar, which are said to be still 
 preserved, and which can scarcely be detected from 
 engravings, for which they passed for many years, 
 till they \vere discovered to be pen-work, and their 
 history was traced. See page 151. 
 
 Among the most remarkable and expeditious Mi- 
 croscopic Writers of recent time was the late Mr. 
 John Cutten of Margate, who, when between Eighty 
 and Eighty-two years of age, wrote many specimens 
 which have been kindly placed at my service. Un- 
 fortunately the ink has changed colour, so that per- 
 fect copies could not be obtained ; but the precise 
 size of two of his specimens will be seen below. 
 The first is the Belief, within the circumference of 
 bixpence, and the second is the Lord's Prayer, in 
 
 considerably less space than the circumference of a 
 Threepenny Piece. The age of the Writer adds 
 greatly to the interest of these illustrations. The 
 Lord's Prayer, written by a young man circuitously 
 within the size of a Threepenny Piece, is given, by 
 way of comparison. Mr. Cutten died December 24th, 
 1866, aged 82 years. See page 154.
 
 116
 
 117 
 
 Writers have sometimes shown their skill by pro- 
 ducing enormous Letters by command of Hand, with- 
 out any patching or after-touches, in the style pre- 
 sented on page 57, where the letters, large as they 
 are, are comparatively small. Others have indulged 
 in peculiar designs like " Vive la Plume," on page 
 116, which is about nine times as large in the origi- 
 nal ; the whole of the fancy-work beiog performed in 
 one stroke. This specimen is by the celebrated Writer 
 William Milns, a Member of Oxford University. 
 The Book from which it was taken was published in 
 1795, and is one of great merit. 
 
 Monogram, containing all the letters of the Alphabet, numbered. 
 
 Monograms, etc., afEord great scope for design. 
 The above was struck off very rapidly by one of my 
 pupils at my suggestion, and on page 118 there is 
 another style of Monogram, designed and executed 
 by the same talented and obliging gentleman, giving
 
 118 
 
 Monogram— "William Stokes.
 
 119 
 
 
 Fac-simile of Rapid Pen "Work. 
 
 "William Stokes." On this page there is a little 
 piece of fancy writing which he produced very 
 quickly ; and on page 120 there is a Dallastype 
 reduction of a rough-and-ready specimen of orna- 
 mental writing, " Stokes on Natural and Artificial 
 Memory," adorned with Forget- me-Nots, by another 
 gentleman, who is very quick with his pen. The 
 speed with which many can design and execute
 
 120 
 
 <ii^\imii^€i^mU 
 
 Reduced specimen of Rapid Pen Work. 
 
 ornamental Writing would astonish those who have 
 not seen such displays. 
 
 A very singular piece of penmanship is shown on 
 page 122. It is chiefly composed of trellis-work, and 
 stipple-work or dots. It is a reduction from an old 
 card which I had the good fortune to meet with in 
 one of my Caligraphic hunting expeditions. The 
 original is 12| X 7| inches. It contains the follow- 
 ing statement, and description of Oxford: — "This 
 Piece of Penmanship is throughout the production 
 of one Steel Pen, manufactured by the celebrated 
 Joseph Gillott, maker in ordinary by command to 
 the Queen. — Oxford. Oxford is a City and Capital of 
 Oxfordshire, seated on the Thames, at the influx of
 
 121 
 
 fhe Cherwell. It has besides the Cathedral thirteen 
 Parish Churches, a famous University, a noble Market 
 Place, and a magnificent Bridge. The University is 
 supposed to have been a seminary for learning before 
 the time of Alfred. It has twenty-one Colleges and 
 five Halls, which give the City an air of magnificence. 
 Among the former the most ancient is, as is con- 
 jectured, the University College, it having been 
 founded before the year eight hundred and seventy- 
 two, nearly a thousand years since ; and to Christ 
 Church College, begun by Cardinal Wolsey, and 
 finished by King Henry the Eighth, belongs the 
 Cathedral. This City was distinguished for its at- 
 tachment to the unfortunate Charles the First, who 
 here held his Court during the whole Civil Wars ; 
 and without the town are many Ruins of Fortifica- 
 tions erected in that war." It may be presumed 
 that this elaborate specimen was produced as an 
 advertisement for the late Mr. Joseph Gillott's Steel 
 Pens, shortly after Steel Pens were first introduced 
 in 1820, when a Steel Pen cost Seven Shillings and 
 Sixpence; and the same amount was charged by 
 Writing Masters for teaching the art of cutting a 
 Quill ! 
 
 We are much indebted to Messrs. Gillott and 
 others for the introduction of this civilizing little 
 implement ; and many thanks are due to the philan- 
 thropist Sir Josiah Mason, of Birmingham, who so 
 lowered the price of the Steel Pen as to place it at 
 the command of the million ; and who with the wealth 
 arising from his praiseworthy efforts has munificently 
 provided shelter and comfort for the poor and the 
 afflicted, and in the most painstaking, substantial, 
 and practical manner, far superior to posthumous 
 benevolence, has proved himself the genuine friend 
 -)f education and humanity. 
 
 &
 
 
 
 """" llpMeilllli, r 
 
 
 ..lElliS ■ ^' 
 
 ^ j I'-^^^^itfisMi ''bliss <V!(ii!f;imL i'J 3teniii;.tBli'iTOi!it» io^jt^f" » {]ij 
 
 \lL,jy jSSm,m^ ifL'lt to will l<fliW lilt nihil nivT niti; mliNnrtlirji ^k tomj ^,«ss»t*?, V,iy 
 
 
 
 Reduced fac simile of elaborate work produced throughout with 
 One Steel Pen. It contains 131 words.
 
 123 
 
 "While appreciating the introductior of the Steel 
 Pen, we must not be unmindful of our dear old friend 
 the Quill. In spite of all modern innovations, there 
 are times when the use of a good Quill seems to be a 
 luxury ; but as so many writers have " cut the quill " 
 in one manner, but very few know how to cut it in 
 another, a few suggestions may be of service. 
 
 HOW TO CUT A QUILL. 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 Cut off about a quarter of an inch from back and 
 front, half-moon fashion, like the end of Illustration, 
 No. 2, above. Scrape and clear the quill inside 
 and out, if necessary, with the back of your knife. 
 
 Cut away the inside scoop or cradle-piece;.see No. 1 . 
 
 Enter the knife evenly at the inside of the quill, 
 and slit it with a sudden jerk, keeping your left 
 thamb tightly upon the back, to regulate the length 
 of slit ; see No. 2. 
 
 Cut away shoulder-pieces, see 3 ; and cut away tip, 
 see 3, placing pen while cutting, on left thumb-nail. 
 
 Trim nib to broad or fine point, according to re 
 quirements ; see 4. 
 
 L 2
 
 124 
 
 The length of the cradle-piece, of the slit, or of the 
 ehoulders, will greatly determine the stiffness, plia- 
 bility, and general characteristics of the pen. The 
 tip may sometimes be scraped till transparent, with 
 advantage. Bending in the nib will give it additional 
 spring. Rounding the parts which are generally 
 square, will produce freedom and smoothness of 
 stroke. Wet the pen in your mouth before you put 
 it into the ink for the first time. Sometimes soaking 
 the pen in the ink for a few minutes will render it 
 pliant. As the art of cutting a quill cannot be ac- 
 quired at the first attempt, practise upon common 
 quills, and ultimately cut only good ones. Old ones 
 which are totally unlit for use, will answer the pur- 
 pose at first. Remove the feather, and trim accord- 
 ing to taste, taking a properly trimmed quill as 
 your model. Always use a very sharp knife. For 
 red, blue, and other coloured inks, the quill is far 
 preferable to a steel pen. 
 
 ORNAMENTAL WRITING. 
 
 Thoroughly "Ornamental" Writingis comparatively 
 rarely required in ordinary pursuits, and its practice 
 has therefore been entirely discontinued in many 
 schools. Plain Writing, however, if well executed, is 
 ornamental^ even if wholly free from all attempts at 
 ornament. The simple formation of Ornamental 
 letters, does not constitute a good Ornamental Writer, 
 but he must display skill and taste in their arrange- 
 ment and harmonious combination. To execute 
 Ornamental Writing from established Hands, without 
 a copy requires good Memory. Novices often un- 
 consciously mix two or three Hands, or form their 
 letters very imperfectly. Considerable ingenuity,
 
 125 
 
 Fix the above in Memory, and then design a complete Fancy 
 Alphabet in that style. In the first instance make each letter 
 upon a separate card or piece of paper, and let all the cards or 
 pieces of paper be the same size ; you can then destroy fail- 
 ures without interfering with your approved work. 
 
 Study this carefully. Observe, it is almost entirely composed 
 of curved lines and dots. Fix the different formations in your 
 Memory, at first separately, and afterwards in combination. 
 Try it ; it is easier than it seems. " See Stokes's Rapid 
 Drawing," page 81. 
 
 L 3
 
 126 
 
 Compoped almost entirely of curved lines and dots, which 
 possibly you can see on the face of it ; but — 
 To pive very clear illustrations 
 
 Without explanations beneath. 
 Seems like olTering iiuts without crackers 
 To some who may not have good teeth I
 
 127
 
 129
 
 130
 
 131 
 
 talent, taste, and comicality, may be displayed in 
 forming original fancy alphabets or letters. Floral, 
 Animal, Nautical, Mechanical, Architectural, Charac- 
 teristic, Grotesque, and other Alphabets, may be pro- 
 duced in endless variety. 
 
 WRITING IN RELATION TO DRAWING. 
 
 Cultivation of the Art of Writing often leads to a 
 taste for Drawing. The introduction of rough pen 
 and ink sketches in letters, etc., either showing 
 localities or objects, would frequently save much 
 time, and be preferable to writing. As I have found 
 that the inspection of pen and ink sketches has sug- 
 gested similar efforts, I supply some specimens. A 
 rough one quickly performed is on page 132, and on 
 page 24. My likeness in the frontispiece, is a 
 Dallastype copy of a very choice specimen of care- 
 fully performed Pen and Ink work, executed by 
 Mr. Charles Alfred Smith, of London, in April, 1873, 
 from a Photograph by Mr. James Sunderland, of 
 Birmingham. 
 
 My System of Memory has been used very success- 
 fully for Pen and Ink sketching, drawing, painting, 
 etc. The laws of perspective, the relative size of the 
 parts of an object, the rules for combining and har- 
 monising colours, etc, having been fixed in the mind 
 with ease by its aid. See " Stokes's Rapid Drawing." 
 
 PEN PRINTING, etc. 
 
 On page 133 there is an Illustration of Pen and Ink 
 drawing, and Pen and Ink printing, by Mr. John A. 
 Fowler. The curved lines of letters, above, upon, 
 and below the Globe, are especially worthy of notice, 
 as that style of Pen printing can easily be acquired,
 
 ]32 
 
 M,MN COS-imt.AOMiO. 
 
 Facsimile of rapidly executed Pen and Ink Sketch.
 
 133 
 ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTIOlSr. 
 
 GEOGRAPHY MADE EASY! 
 
 ONE SHILLING 
 
 FACSIMILE OF PEN AND INK WORK.
 
 134 
 
 and is often preferable to straight lines for Mapping 
 and other purposes. For Pen printing the Pen must 
 be held the same way as for Writing, except that 
 the top of the Pen must point a little to the right of 
 the shoulder. 
 
 FLOURISHING. 
 
 Flourishing has to a great extent gone out of 
 fashion. For ordinary purposes it is not often 
 required, and it is sometimes objectionable. But in 
 order to produce a truly bold, free, open style of 
 large and small letter, it is necessary that the writer 
 Bhould possess an unused, or restrained power oj 
 nourish, and this fact was very emphatically en- 
 forced by old Writing Masters of great celebrity. 
 They flourished to perfection, they taught flourishing, 
 and, like men of sound sense, they endeavoured to 
 invest the art with all possible interest. Therefore 
 they combined their flourishes in such a manner as 
 to necessitate great skill and freedom in the use of 
 the fingers and arm, and at the same time to produce 
 representations of men, horses, dogs, birds, fish, etc., 
 such objects demanding the utmost precision, yet 
 affording greater scope for the display of taste and 
 ingenuity, than merely unmeaning, unsuggestive 
 curves. Their Aim, however, has been quite mis- 
 understood by many teachers and authorities ; and it 
 has been gravely stated that the old Writing Masters 
 foolishly attempted to set the Pen in rivalry with 
 the pencil, and miserably failed by producing only 
 grotesque outlines or caricatures. Surely, however, 
 a little reflection must show that no such endeavour 
 could have been made by the practical and skilful 
 men who were in some instances Penmen, Artists, 
 and Engravers in combination! No! they were not
 
 135 
 
 Buch simpletons. They quite knew what they were 
 aiming at, and if anybody wants to know too, let 
 liim try to strike a Swan in flourish in the old style, 
 and he will speedily find it is impossible to produce 
 it properly without abandoning the cramped, formal, 
 schoolboy style of holding the Pen, and he will dis- 
 cover that he must substitute a freedom of motion 
 to which he has probably been wholly unused ! In 
 this Book I introduce a variety of choice specimens 
 of this style of Penmanship, many being reduced 
 designs by Writing Masters, who " Flourished " more 
 than two hundred years ago. 
 
 HOW TO MAKE THE FLOURISHED 
 
 Men, Birds, Animals, Fishes, Etc. 
 
 Observe where they are begun, and from that point 
 trace their course with a dry pen throughout ; after- 
 wards, from the beginning "trace a small part with a 
 dry pen. Then make a copy of that portion in ink. 
 Continuously trace another part with a dry pen, copy 
 it in ink ; and so proceed till the figure is com- 
 pleted. Repeat this till you can produce the entire 
 figure at one stroke, if possible, from Memory. Try 
 Bpecimens on pages 142, 143, 138, etc. 
 
 BRUSH WRITING, Exa 
 For producing large, black, legible, and effective 
 Writing, suitable for Window Tickets, Notices of 
 Public Institutions, etc. the use of ink dregs and gum 
 with a Camel's Hair Brush will give ease, speed, and 
 striking appearance not to be had by ordinary means. 
 For writing on Canvas, as used for business pack- 
 ing, or for large brown paper parcels, thick ink and a 
 piece of whalebone made into a kind of brush, should 
 be employed. 
 
 M 2
 
 136 
 
 CompoBed entirely of curved lines, principally forming ovals, 
 ioops, and barbs, which should be fixed in Memory and prac- 
 tised separately, first; and in combination afterwards.
 
 137 
 
 When the Memory is accurate and the hand is at perfect 
 command, a design of this kind can be struck in leas than two 
 minutes, as shown at my lectures. 
 
 Many very beautiful specimens, executed expressly for me by 
 diflferent experts, can be seen ia my collection, part of which 
 was on view for some months at the Royal Polytechnic Inati- 
 tatiou. 
 
 m3
 
 138 
 
 Draw some likeneBses is Pen and Ink, and flourish all but 
 the Faces. 
 
 Large enpraved ppecimena of this order, of the most elabo- 
 rate and costly kind, are in the Stokes-ian Collection.
 
 139 
 
 Trace this throughout. 
 
 Make some designs for Inscriptions in the fashion here shown.
 
 140 
 
 Trace this with a dry pen, comraencinj? with the inner line over the 
 left e.yc, and ending, without a break, over tlie left knee. 
 
 With a little practice this may be traced in two or three minutes; 
 and it is a capital exerciise for perception, concentration of thought, and 
 Memory. After your first efforts of perception, the readiness of your 
 memory will determine your speed.
 
 141 
 
 MR. DIXON, 
 
 The celebrated Californian Penman, as lie appears 
 at Mr. Stokes's Lectures, illustrating Memory as 
 applied to Fine Art Penmanship, and executing 
 beautiful snecimens while heejping time to Musiol 
 
 Draw this from copy, in pen and ink. 
 
 Draw from Memory. 
 
 Try moving the pen in Dixon's fashion.
 
 142 
 
 See page 135. 
 
 WRITING MANY HANDS. 
 
 The power of writing several good styles has been acquired 
 by many who liave availed themselves of my suggestions ; and 
 Bome have bo tutored their memory and developed their skill, 
 that tliey can easily and elegantly write more than three hun- 
 dred and sixty-five different hands, thus proving their ability 
 to write more hands than there are days in the year. 
 
 I have numerous specimens ; and extraordinary writing de- 
 monstrations have been given at my residence and elsewhere, 
 under my direction.
 
 143 
 
 See page 185. 
 
 BLACK-BOARD WRITING ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 Thousands of people have shown their approval of my Rapid 
 Writing Black-Board Illustrations, vyhich I have given at my 
 Memory Demonstrations in the Lecture Room and Central Hall 
 of the Royal Aquarium, Westminster ; and it vpould be a blessing 
 to society if tens of thousands more could be induced to attend 
 either there, or privately, at my residence.
 
 144 
 
 Where does this specimen begin P 
 I can see— eye caa see 1
 
 145 
 
 A writer, nnlTke the Ow], should be glad of a ^ood light. 
 Never at m your own light, and "never stand in yourSwa 
 light "—never write badly. ^
 
 147 
 
 MEMORY TESTS IN STOKES'S RAPID 
 WRITING. 
 
 Innumerable Memory Tests are introduced in 
 these pages, and if you will carefully watch the 
 operations of your own mind while studying this 
 book on " Rapid Writing," you will observe, 
 that after your attention has been directel to 
 the relationship of certain facts, one idea will re- 
 call another, presuming your memory to be in 
 proper working order ; and the frequent references to 
 other pages will show you in the first instance what 
 ideas to associate in your memory, and will after- 
 wards enable you to test your memory as to the 
 thoroughness of their association. Thus : after Mr. 
 Dixon's Pen Flourish, page 55, reference is made to 
 the likeness of Mr. Dixon, page 141. Subsequently, 
 on coming to page 141, Mr. Dixon's likeness ought 
 to suggest to you his Pen Flourish ; and reference is 
 made to page 55, so that you may try to remember 
 the Flourish accurately, and then look at it, to ascer- 
 tain the fidelity or unreliability of your memory. 
 
 When you come to the last reference, mentally 
 utter my Golden Rule for Memory, "Observe, reflect, 
 link thought with thought, and think of the im- 
 pressions," and observe whether you really did ob- 
 serve, etc., thus : — 
 
 When you looked at Mr. Dixon's likeness, did you 
 observe the peculiar manner in which he held his 
 pen ? Did you reflect upon the reason of his thus 
 holding it ? Did you " link thought with thought " ? 
 — the holding of the pen and certain beautiful ap- 
 pearances in the specimen on page 55 ? And did 
 you " think of the impressions " ? — that you had 
 obtained a valuable new idea in relation to pen 
 holding — that no doubt you could be taught many 
 others — that you would try some experiments, etc. ?
 
 148
 
 149 
 
 STOKES'S 
 RAPID WRITING. 
 
 See Preface, page 5. 
 
 The greater part of this hook has been stereotyped for 
 seyeral years, and the fresh portions have been intro- 
 duced in such a manner as to avoid any material altera- 
 tion of the paging. 
 
 THE 
 
 ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION, 
 
 as such, no longer exists, but through the munificence 
 of Mr. QUINTIN HOGG, it has been converted into 
 
 THE POLYTECHNIC 
 YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE, 
 
 one of the finest Institutes in the World, embracing 
 POLYTECHNIC CHARACTERISTICS- 
 
 MY 
 
 MEMORY ILLUSTRATIONS, AND LESSONS 
 
 are continued with Great Success, by myself and 
 assistants, at my Residence, 
 
 15, Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, London, W.; 
 
 and I lecture and teach at the 
 
 ROYAL AQUARIUM, WESTMINSTER ; 
 
 GRAND AQUARIUM, BRIGHTON ; 
 
 and elsewhere, as specially announced. 
 
 W. S. 
 n3
 
 150 
 
 i 2 
 
 .2 rH 
 
 ■s II, 
 
 
 s so 
 ;> "^ 
 
 •^ ^ " fl J 
 oa^H « S S 
 
 >.2 fl 9 © 
 
 li Is 
 
 ooS;f§ 
 
 
 .2 "^ M•
 
 151 
 
 SPECIMENS OF WRITING. 
 
 Particular attention should be paid to the following 
 Buggestions. 
 
 Specimens of writing should be executed upon good 
 paper, card, cardboard, parchment, etc., with a good pen, 
 and with good ink. The same ink throughout. 
 
 They should, if possible, have a wide margin in all 
 directions. 
 
 Specimens of different sizes may often be executed upon 
 the same size paper with great advantage, as they thus 
 form an important set or series, instead of being merely 
 a number of interesting scraps. They may sometimes 
 be improved by the addition of ruled lines, or of a fancy 
 pen-and-ink border. 
 
 They should be signed in full, and dated in full ; and 
 occasionally the address of the penman, and where, and 
 under what circumstances the specimens were produced, 
 should be added. 
 
 They should be timed thus :— Executed in one hour 
 and a half ; executed in three minutes ; executed in 
 twenty-nine seconds. 
 
 They should never be backed, folded, or creased ; and 
 should, if possible, be kept flat, in books, folios, boxes, or 
 in well-glazed frames, from which the dust is entirely 
 excluded. 
 
 When sent by post, if not too large, they should be 
 protected with stout cardboard, back and front. The 
 cardboard should be rather larger than the specimens. 
 
 The packet should be very plainly addressed, and above 
 the name should be penned in large clear letters. 
 CAEE— PLEASE DO NOT BEND THIS. 
 
 Specimens on paper too large to be sent flat by post, 
 should be carefully rolled in white paper, tied with thin 
 string, and placed in a stout tube, which can be easily 
 made by rolling pasted brown paper over a ruler or stick. 
 The tube should be an inch longer than the specimens. 
 
 When being handled, specimens should be well sup- 
 ported at the back, should be held by the edges, and 
 should be shown under a sheet of glass, to protect them 
 from those who appear to try to see with the tips of their 
 fingers. See page 214.
 
 152
 
 153 
 
 Try these in different sizes, and various coloured inks. 
 Make original variations. See page 151.
 
 164 
 
 ORIGINAL SPECIMEN OF MICROSCOPIC 
 WRITING BY HENRY HUBERT. 
 
 I have in my extensive and valuable collection of 
 specimens of penmanship a very curious design five 
 inches long and three and three-quarter inches broad 
 at its widest part, by Henry Hubert, representing a 
 watch face, one inch and one-eighth in diameter, 
 upon a kind of watch-stand, with two pillars, tablets, 
 etc., containing the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Com- 
 mandments, the Apostles' Creed, three pieces of 
 Poetry, and an Inscription. 
 
 The Ten Commandments are upon two side tablets, 
 each one inch and seven-eighths long, and five-eighths 
 of an inch wide, and the three pieces of Poetry are 
 upon a central tablet one inch and seven-eighths long 
 and one inch wide. 
 
 The Apostles' Creed and the Inscription stretch 
 beneath the three tablets ; and the Lord's Prayer is 
 above the watch face, written in sixteen lines, within 
 a circle only a little more than five six- /'"^ 
 teenths of an inch in diameter, the size here ( ) 
 shown. ^"-^ 
 
 Notwithstanding the minuteness of the writing, the 
 letters are so well formed that the words can be easily 
 read with the aid of a powerful magnifying glass. 
 
 Two globes, each three-eighths of an inch in 
 diameter, on the top of the two pillars, catch the 
 eye in such a manner that the Lord's Prayer is often 
 entirely unobserved by those who think they have 
 discovered all the peculiarities of the specimen. 
 
 The three pieces of Poetry are entitled " Memento 
 on Time," " On Sin," and " On a Watch " ; and the 
 following is the Inscription. 
 
 " Written by Henry Hubert, for, and presented to. 
 Sir Robert Barclay, Baronet, November the 28th, in 
 the Year 1811.
 
 155 
 
 AN ORIGINAL SPECIMEN OF PENMANSHIP 
 BY MATTHEW BUCHINGER. 
 
 Through the sharpness, kindness, and fidelity of 
 an esteemed friend, I have now an original specimen 
 of Penmanship by Matthew Buchinger. It is seven 
 and a quarter inches long, and four and a quarter 
 inches broad, and contains the Ten Commandments, 
 most beautifully written, and enclosed in a fancy pen- 
 work Design, with the following Inscription beneath. 
 
 " Corke, April the 23, 1739. This was Drawn and 
 Written by Matthew Buchinger, born, Without Hands 
 or Feet, in Germany, June ye 3, 1674. 
 
 It is protected with glass, in a wooden frame, on 
 the back board of which is written, — 
 
 Bought on the 23 of Aprl 1770. 
 
 A small modern likeness of Buchinger, with en- 
 graved specimens of his slanting, upside-down, and 
 back-handed writing, has been pasted below. 
 
 This rarity came into my possession Saturday, 
 February 9th, 1884. 
 
 CLEAR, QUICK WRITING. 
 
 It is impossible for any lover of beautiful writing 
 not to be interested in some of the specimens of 
 modem Pen Work resulting wholly or in part from 
 the study of this book, or from my Memory Aiding 
 Writing Lessons ; but the clearness and speed in 
 Writing which many of my pupils have acquired 
 through my aid is of far greater importance. 
 
 The old style of teaching Writing, involving the 
 tedious study of unrememberable details, irksome 
 tasks, and time-absorbing special practice, is quite 
 unsuited to this busy age ; and people in all con- 
 ditions of life can appreciate the luxury of obtaining 
 in a few minutes the means of securing results for 
 which they have hitherto toiled in vain, while duty 
 to themselves and to others points to the desirability 
 of immediate improvement. See pages 279-282.
 
 156 
 
 Count the mimber of strokes in the different parts of each of 
 these specimens, commit them to Memory visually and numeri- 
 cally, and reproduce each six times precisely alike, without 
 reference to the original or the copies. 
 
 Afterwards compare the six copies with the original.
 
 157 
 
 a- 
 
 5 P 
 
 iZ t-i 
 
 .2°
 
 158 
 
 
 Rcducefl facsimile of a remarkably elaborate piece of Pen 
 Work. Original, 14-i x 12J inches.
 
 159 
 
 Composed of straight lines and curves ; thick lines and thin. 
 Observe, the thick lines never cut each other. To secure the 
 required strokes, keep your pen in position, and turn your 
 paper about. More Memory wanted tor this than some would 
 imagine, although much of the work is repeated. 
 
 o2
 
 160 
 
 Observe the various Pen movements used in this specimen, 
 and see if you can retain them in Memory visually, so accu- 
 r.itely that the si^ht of a Bicyclist on his Bicycle shall recall 
 the details of the illustration.
 
 161 
 
 t^r?nr? 
 
 Look at this specimen observingly. Count three. Close the 
 book, and write a description of the design, giving its details 
 as accurately as you can, from Memory. 
 
 3
 
 162 
 
 WRITING MUSIC. 
 
 For Writing Music, the paper should be more in 
 front of the writer than for ordinary Writing, and 
 the top of the Pen should point to the right of the 
 right shoulder. When words are to go with the 
 Music, an upright, or nearly upright hand, is pre- 
 ferable to the ordinary slanted writing, as shown 
 on page 163, which is a reduced facsimile of Pen 
 work; a verse of my Song, "The Engine Driver," 
 and the Chorus, being given with the Music in Old, 
 and Tonic Sol-Fa Notation, the latter being introduced 
 by the kind permission of the Rev. John Curwen, 
 Copyrightee of the Method. 
 
 If agreeable, copy " The Engine Driver," care- 
 fully in Writing, as an exercise ; and afterwards 
 learn it, partly by writing upon the plan suggested 
 at page 203, and re- write it mentally when travelling 
 by Rail, or on other suitable occasions. See page 206. 
 I wrote and composed this song during a railway 
 journey : — 
 
 THE ENGINE DRIVER. 
 
 You have oft had a song from the Jolly Jack Tar, 
 
 lu praise of his life on the sea ; 
 But an Engine Driver stout, and weather-proof am I, 
 
 And a song you shall now have from mel 
 The joys and the perils of ocean Ufa 
 
 Are sung on every hand; 
 Then why should the joys and the perils not be sung 
 
 \Vhich attach to a life on the land? 
 
 Chorus : — Then list to an Engine Driver's song, 
 A noble hfe is mine; 
 So give me a friendly tlionght at home, 
 And when you're on the line I
 
 163 
 
 toVcrtiio ct^v-i. tjy^f-MtiCtJmULs^Jhtli^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ul^^ 
 
 Reduced facsimile of Pen Work, Original four times this size.
 
 164 
 
 I oft compete with the rising sun, 
 
 And am first at my duty seen; 
 And mounting my snorting iron steed, 
 
 I dash to the meadows green. 
 I leave the smoky, cloudy, town, 
 
 And I breathe the pure fresh air ; 
 My limgs expand, and it's really grand 
 
 To feel strong and free from care ! 
 
 Chorus: — Then list, etc 
 
 I fly past many lovely spots 
 
 Bedecked with flowers and trees ; 
 And I glance at palaces and cots — 
 
 The abodes of toil and ease. 
 And I envy none, whate'er their lot, 
 
 A contented man am I ; 
 I've duty to do, and to do it well 
 
 Is the thing at which I try ! 
 
 Chorus: — Then list, etc. 
 
 My arm is strong, and I keep my head clear, 
 
 And so it has need to be ; 
 For a precious freight of life and limb 
 
 And of wealth is consigned to me. 
 Thousands to me entrust their lives, 
 
 The famed, beloved, and wise ; 
 Kesponsibihty condensed 
 
 Upon my shoulder hes ! 
 
 Chorus : — Then list, etc. 
 
 I have to rough it more than most, — 
 
 I face the wind and rain. 
 And brave the frost, nor count the cost, 
 
 But yet I don't complain. 
 Peril oft stares me in the face, 
 
 Grim death have I defied; 
 Yet with light heart I daily go. 
 
 To take my lightning ride 1 
 
 Chorus : — Then list, etc.
 
 165 
 
 I dart through cuttings damp and long, 
 
 Through tunnels dark and chill, — 
 Breathe steam and smoke, catch hlacks, chew grit, 
 
 Yet take not such things ill ! 
 Pleasure and Commerce are my pets, 
 
 Their projects I extend; 
 And Progress owns, with gratitude, 
 
 She ne'er had such a friend ! 
 
 Chorus : — Then list, etc. 
 
 LADIES' HAND. 
 
 Angular Hand, which was at one time much 
 taught for both Ladies and Gentlemen, is now con- 
 sidered by many to be especially suitable for Ladies, 
 by whom it is extensively adopted. As practised by 
 many ladies it is neat and pretty, but unintelligible. 
 This arises from the fact of the whole of the small 
 letters being based upon the horizontal zigzag, which 
 causes great similarity in some of them ; the letters 
 
 €, €t^ "/«, ^}n^ being extremely perplexing when coming 
 
 in certain combinations, as will be seen from the 
 illustrations given on pages 169, and 65, last lines. 
 This may be remedied however, to a great extent, by 
 carefully spacing the letters as shown on page 168. 
 
 Small Semi-angular Hand is elegant for ladies, and 
 is much more distinct than the angular; see 
 specimens, pages 167, and 65, third line. 
 
 A small round style of letter is also suitable for 
 ladies. It is particularly neat and clear, and is 
 taught and strongly advocated by many eminent 
 Masters. See page 65, second line. 
 
 The importance of teaching girls to write well \\ 
 very great, and the Fair Sex are often most apt anL 
 able pupils. The female mind, when properly train-
 
 166 
 
 J <^ ^ 
 
 cf f- // ^^ 
 
 ^ ^ ^ 
 
 /?. 
 
 ^2;> 
 
 ^ ^ 
 ^ 
 
 .^ 
 
 ^<^ x^ 
 
 ^e/- 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^7^ 
 
 
 Very neat Ladies' Antjular Hand. Easy to learu, and quick to use.
 
 167 
 
 c^^ ^ 
 
 ^<# 
 
 c^^^^ 
 
 
 -^ ^ ^7/' 
 
 ci^^^ 
 
 .^^^'2^^^^€^/■ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^r^ 
 
 
 
 
 ^^^ /^ 
 
 .^-^ ^ ^^ 
 
 ^ ^- 
 
 -^^^ .<^^ -^^^ 
 
 y<l> 
 
 -^ ^3^ 
 
 Elegant Ladies' Semi-angular Hand. Very legible.
 
 170 
 
 ed, is capable of an amount of close thought and 
 endurance of application which many people seem 
 slow to recognise ; and the skill which ladies display 
 m many occupations is very marked, especially in 
 Writing. 
 
 Young ladies are often as quick with the Pen, 
 In Business Houses, as business men ! 
 
 The careful student of Biography, and the close 
 observer of the affairs of daily life, will clearly see 
 the value of Writing as a feminine Art 
 
 It very often happens that a man's success in life, 
 
 May be traced to his possessing a good Writer for a wife 1 
 
 LEGAL HANDWRITING. 
 
 That which is commonly called " Lawyer's Hand " 
 is a very clear kind of Writing, rather upright, with- 
 out ornament, with short loops, etc.; but even with 
 these restrictions, there is great diversity of style, 
 legibility always being one of its principal charac- 
 teristics. The large and small Alphabet, written "by 
 an experienced Law Writer, is on page 171. 
 
 Writing in a style which is technically termed 
 Engrossing, is ako much used by the Legal profes- 
 sion for transcribing Deeds and Documents. 
 
 The word " Engross " is derived from the French 
 words en, in ; and gros^ large — literally meaning to 
 make large ; but Engrossing is especially applied to 
 such Writing as that on page 172 which was written 
 by the gentleman who supplied the preceding speci- 
 men. The Capital Letters are in Plain " German 
 Text," written rapidly, without any attempt at Copper 
 Plate finish ; but sometimes a Legal Document is 
 executed with great beauty and precision.
 
 171 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 s ^ 
 
 p 2
 
 172 
 
 
 4- 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 \-s 
 
 ♦ 
 
 'n' 
 
 ^ 
 
 V 
 
 ^ 
 
 « 
 
 Y 
 
 "? 
 
 4 
 
 ^ 1 
 
 •^ 
 
 \\ f^ 
 
 
 
 0^ 
 
 ^ 1 
 
 ^ 
 ^ 
 
 V* 1 
 
 \; 
 
 ■T 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^" 
 
 *^ 
 
 t^ 
 
 tr
 
 173 
 
 A Quill is preferable to a Steel pen for this Hand, 
 and it should be held so as to point over the Knuckles, 
 away from the shoulder, with the nib so placed that 
 all the requisite strokes can be made freely. 
 
 To many people it appears to be rather a formid- 
 able task to learn to write the German Text Capitals, 
 60 as to produce them accurately from Memory ; but 
 the application of my Memory Rule will consider- 
 ably lesson the difficulty. " Observe, reflect, link 
 thought with thought, and think of the impressions." 
 Observe that there are very few different shapes in 
 the strokes used throughout ; reflect upon the com- 
 parative simplicity thus discovered ; link thought 
 With thought, make the formation of one letter sug- 
 gest another ; and finally, think of the impressions — 
 go through the process again mentally, till you feel 
 certain that you can form every letter properly. The 
 thought-linking can be best accomplished by classifi- 
 cation. 
 
 Imitate a first-rate copy, and learn to make the 
 easiest letters first, which according to some of the 
 best examples run thus : C, T, 0, Q, G ; I, F, L, E. 
 
 The first stroke in A ; and in B, which in care- 
 fully formed letters is almost a circle, is in modified 
 form in twelve letters. A, B, H, M, N, P, R, S, U, 
 V, W, Y, and a Brace is in four letters, B, K, R, 
 and Q. The whole of these details may be called 
 to mind by means of the following Mnemonic sent- 
 ence, which may be rather refreshing to my Oxford 
 friends, as it may suggest many a delightful pull on 
 the Isis to IflSey : — Celebrated Teachers Of Qaill 
 Guiding, residing near I, F, L, E, announce that A 
 Bungling Hand May Nevertheless Present Really 
 Symmetrical Universally Valued Writing Yet ; and 
 will find the letters containing a Brace Known 
 Remarkably Quickly ! 
 
 p 3
 
 174 
 
 CIVIL SERVICE WRITING. 
 
 Candidates for the Civil Service should cultivate a 
 bold, legible style of Writing, free from ornament. 
 A kind of " Lawyer's Hand," " School Boy's Hand," 
 a very precise Business Hand, and large thick writing 
 are styles which are very much used. See pages 
 171, 178, 40, 176, 175, and 177. 
 
 When the Writing has to be copied by means 
 of the Copying Press, the upstrokes should be nearly 
 as thick as the downstrokes, produced by almost 
 equal pressure upon the pen, which should be a broad 
 one. See page 176. 
 
 A facsimile of part of a letter kindly sent to me 
 from the Civil Service Commission, in connection 
 with the subject, is on page 175. 
 
 Very often the words and lines are farther apart 
 than in ordinary writing, which would display bad 
 writing to a great disadvantage, as indifferent writing 
 looks best when the lines are rather close to each 
 other. 
 
 Ordinary handwriting may speedily be changed to 
 Civil Service style. 
 
 AVERAGE SPEED. 
 
 It is an advantage to notice one's average speed of 
 writing. In many pursuits expedition is essential, 
 and, wath practice, surprising rapidity may be ac- 
 quired. 
 
 Entering Clerks often write very quickly and 
 " Extend " the lines at the same time— that is to say, 
 \vork out the amounts as they go on, and that too very 
 often in the midst of an amount of din which would 
 drive some people crazy. On page 179 tliere is a good 
 specimen of Entering Clerk's Hand, with average
 
 175
 
 . 176 
 
 
 ry^^i^^^^^ ^^^^^€:>z^^cy^ 
 
 
 The above verse of the Bible contains all the letters of the 
 alphabet, regarding? j as represented by i. 
 Heavy style of Writing, suited for the Copying Press.
 
 177 
 
 
 ---;;^2L___^^^^^^/ 
 
 Plain, bold, rapid, and continuous style of Writing', suited for the 
 Civil Service, by which each word can be made without Ufting the 
 Pen. See pages 46 and 47.
 
 179
 
 180 
 
 ^'y^i.^^^^^u^^^
 
 181
 
 182 
 

 
 183 
 
 speed attached — 25 words per minute, — but the 
 writer of that specimen can write very much more 
 quickly when forming his letters with a little less care, 
 and can " Extend," or calculate his lines at the same 
 time. He is one of the Head Clerks in a London 
 Plouse, one of the largest and best Establishments 
 in the Kingdom. 
 
 The specimens of Ledger Clerk's Hand, on pages 
 180 and 181, are written by him also. The Writing 
 in a Ledger is generally written with greater care, 
 and consequently with less speed, than that in the 
 Day Book. 
 
 AUTOGRAPHS. 
 
 The collection and preservation of Autographs is 
 a practice worthy of cultivation, as it is likely to 
 induce the production of carefully-formed and legible 
 signatures. I can imitate from Memory the Writ- 
 ing of a great many celebrities. Some of the styles 
 are bold and clear, and could be read at arm's length ; 
 but the original signatures are in some other cases 
 absolutely unreadable, and cannot be made out, even 
 when the intended names are known. 
 
 Autograph Albums can be made very easily. Ori- 
 ginal Autographs can be written in them expressly, 
 and others which cannot be procured thus, can be 
 pasted in. Facsimiles of Autographs may also be 
 inserted. 
 
 On page 184 there are three likenesses of King 
 Charles I., and there are three facsimiles of his 
 Autographs ; on page 185 there is a likeness of 
 Oliver Cromwell, and there are two facsimiles of his 
 Autographs ; and on page 186 there is a Dallastype 
 reduced facsimile of the Warrant for the Execution 
 of King Charles I., containing 67 signatures 
 
 Q 2
 
 184 
 
 lun"Cliciilcs I. 
 
 rrsidr. 
 
 iloliuXiiand.
 
 1R.' 
 
 Oliver CroniweH.^ 
 
 
 /^"^Cffi^ 
 
 4iffQ^ 
 
 q3
 
 187 
 
 with seals. Size of the original, 16x8f inches. On 
 page 283, there is a reduced facsimile of my Certifi- 
 cate for Memory-aiding Works, etc., in the Interna- 
 tional Exhibition, 1871, with Autograph of His 
 Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Size of Certifi- 
 cate, ISfXlOf inches. Other signatures are in 
 different parts of the book. Autographs of Celebri- 
 ties will be received with thanks. 
 
 WRITING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 
 
 To many people the idea of '* writing " suggests a 
 quiet room, a desk, and every requisite, and they 
 would only attempt to write with suitable surround- 
 ings ; but it is well to be able to write under less 
 favourable circumstances. To travellers this is es- 
 pecially useful. Time which would otherwise be 
 comparatively wasted, may thus be pleasurably 
 utilised, and that which is considered by some to be 
 a tedious journey may be made to seem remarkably 
 short. 
 
 To write in a train, avoid contact with everybody 
 and everything as much as possible ; hold the paper 
 upon which you write, upon a book, Pocket Memo- 
 riser, or something of that kind, in your left hand 
 held up and out before you, rather to your right, a 
 few inches lower than your chin, and rest the litlle 
 finger of your right hand on the paper. Early efforts 
 may produce only a series of straight and angular 
 unintelligible scratches, but with a little practice 
 legibility and speed may be secured. On page 188 
 there are two specimens of Writing, which were 
 written in a fast train. The first I managed with 
 great difficulty, with the paper, etc, supported upon 
 the window-ledge ; and the second 1 wrote a few
 
 188
 
 189 
 
 moments afterwards, with comparative ease, in the 
 manner described above, in accordance with my usual 
 practice. The second specimen is far more legible 
 than the first. 
 
 When writing in a Tram-Car, Omnibus, Cab, Car- 
 riage, or any vehicle, act upon the above suggestions. 
 
 When writing on board ship in rough weather, avoid 
 contact as much as possible; hold your head upwards 
 and backwards, and hold the paper upon which you 
 write above your chin, at a little distance from you. 
 If you are not a good sailor, you may thus possibly 
 avoid giving your undivided attention to approaching 
 sea-sickness, and may write sick- cure- ly ; but if you 
 were to turn your head down you would feel poorly 
 at once. 
 
 Occasionally, in the absence of a pen, it is well to 
 know how to find a substitute. A skewer or a good 
 long thumb nail will answer the purpose. In using 
 either, do not take too much ink at a time, and when 
 writing with your thumb nail hold it sideways. See 
 pages 188, 190, and 191. 
 
 A disaster may sometimes render it desirable to 
 write with the left hand. It is easier than some 
 imagine, although many people find it extremely 
 awkward at first : a few preliminary efforts should 
 be made upon waste paper. A pen with a medium 
 point should be used, and various experiments should 
 be made in placing the paper, holding the pen, etc. 
 Upright or back-handed Writing is more easily man- 
 aged with the left hand than the ordinary kind, by 
 many people. 
 
 Five very interesting specimens of Nelson's Writ- 
 ing, from Southey's " Life of Nelson," are on page 
 192; three show his style of Writing after he lost his 
 Right Arm. 
 
 Those who have lost the right arm find it difficult
 
 190
 
 191 
 
 1, 

 
 192 

 
 193 
 
 to keep the paper upon which they are writing from 
 moving about and springing up. To obviate this, I 
 designed a simple paper-holder, which has been found 
 most useful. It can easily be made thus : — Cut a 
 piece of tolerably stiff cardboard, rather larger than 
 a sheet of note paper ; fold it in half, like note paper, 
 cut out a piece of the upper half, so as to leave a kind 
 of frame, the inside of which shall be rather smaller 
 than the note paper, slip the paper into this holder, 
 and it will retain its position. 
 
 Those who have lost both arras may write with a 
 pen held in the mouth, or with a pen attached to the 
 foot. 
 
 It is possible to write with both hands at once. 
 The idea having occurred to me, I tried the experi- 
 ment with success, and have since found it a very 
 mirth-creating amusement for a number of friends 
 to try their skill in that manner at the same time. 
 After they have had a little practice, they can have 
 a two-handed Writing Race, which is almost sure to 
 occasion great laughter. The method which gener- 
 ally appears to be most successful is to place the 
 paper immediately before you, put the right hand 
 pen exactly above the left hand pen, leaving just 
 sufficient space for the two lines of Writing not to 
 interfere with each other; move both pens together 
 carefully, as nearly as possible in the same manner; 
 keep both lines in Memory at the same time, but 
 look most at the Writing of the left hand, as the 
 right hand will generally look after itself. To write 
 different words at the same time is very difficult. 
 
 To write with both bands at once is not a very 
 useful accomplishment for the ordinarj'' purposes of 
 life, but the effort may increase the attention and ob- 
 eervation of an otherwise thoughtless learner. 
 
 It is sometimes an advantage to be able to write
 
 194 
 
 in the dark, and this can be managed much more 
 easily than some suppose. A pencil, or " Solid Ink 
 Pencil," is preferable to pen and ink, as the writer 
 may continue to shape letters when his pen has be- 
 come dry. A " Fountain Pen," which will retain a 
 great deal of ink, is better than an ordinary pen for 
 Writing in the dark. 
 
 With a little practice it is easy to write with one's 
 eyes shut. 
 
 The Blind, even those blind from birth, may write 
 very legibly. They often write one line over another, 
 however, if they are unprovided with some special 
 contrivance to prevent this. I have made a Guide, 
 which renders such a thing impossible. To make one, 
 proceed thus : — Out a piece of Cardboard rather 
 larger than a sheet of paper — letter paper, heingwider, 
 is preferable to note paper ; fold it in two like the 
 paper, and cut the upper half into a number of slips 
 about half an inch wide running across the Card- 
 board, and remaining attached to it at the middle 
 fold, which must be strengthened with linen to keep 
 it from tearing. When the paper is placed in the 
 Guide, the slips can be turned back and replaced one 
 after another, so that only sufficient space for one 
 line of Writing may be uncovered at a time. The 
 Blind should lift the pencil or pen from the paper as 
 little as possible, and should leave considerable space 
 between their words. 
 
 The value of Writing to the Deaf and Dumb is very 
 great, and it is a pity that the relatives of those who 
 are thus afflicted should so often neglect to instruct 
 them in the art when young. I have Deaf and Dumb 
 Pupils who can write well in every respect, who can 
 express their thoughts grammatically and elegantly, 
 and who can perform some astonishing feats of 
 Memory by means of the Pen, such as writing His-
 
 195 
 
 torical, Biographical, Chronological, Geographical, 
 Astronomical, and other facts, and mostdifficult piecea 
 of Composition, verbatim, entirely from Memory. 
 
 To teach the Deaf and Dumb to write : Touch or 
 point to a familiar object, and then write its name in 
 bold small hand without using a Capital letter, and 
 get the learner to copy it in Writing. Teach only a 
 few words at a time, and at starting let them be short 
 ones. Then point to an object, the name of which 
 has been learned, and get the pupil to write it. 
 Afterwards, write one of the names and get the 
 pupil to point to it, and so on ; gradually give nouns 
 with longer names, and illustrate and teach verbs, 
 etc., till you get to ordinary sentences. When a mis- 
 take is made in forming a letter, compare it with a 
 letter which the learner makes properly, upon the 
 principle suggested in the Burlesque Rhyme, page 15. 
 Teach the Capitals by substituting them for the 
 small letters commencing words which have been 
 learned. The learner will probably soon enjoy Writ- 
 ing. I have given public Illustrations with Deaf 
 and Dumb Pupils, and have taught my System of 
 Memory to the Deaf and Dumb by Correspondence, 
 with great success. 
 
 TYPOGKAPHICAL MARKS, ETC. 
 
 As so many Writers have more or less occasion to 
 Bend writing to the press, and to correct the specimen 
 sheets, or " proofs ; " and as comparatively few know 
 how to do these matters properly, I give the follow- 
 ing brief suggestions, and insert the principal marks 
 or signs used by Printers and Authors to indicate the 
 various alterations required. A knowledge of them 
 is as necessary in respect to printing, as Punctuation 
 is in ordinary Writing, and their use will save con- 
 
 E 2
 
 196 
 
 siderable trouble, perplexity, and annoyance to both 
 Writer and Printer. Seepages 198, 199, 200, and 201. 
 
 First, make known your requirements clearly, but 
 briefly, and ask for a written estimate. 
 
 Write legibly, taking special care to write Names 
 of Persons, Places, and Things, technicalities, dates, 
 etc., so plainly that no mistake can arise. If you think 
 it necessary, write the words which might be other- 
 wise misunderstood, in BLOCK LETTERS. 
 Never cross your writing. 
 
 If convenient, write on Ruled Foolscap. 
 
 Insert your stops properly, and show clearly where 
 you wish fresh paragraphs, etc. 
 
 Correct your Manuscript as carefully as possible 
 before you send it to the Printer's, remembering that 
 if you neglect any correction till after the tj'-pe has 
 been set up, you will occasion an unnecessary waste 
 of time and labour, and will have to pay for it. 
 
 If possible, get a friend to read your manuscript, 
 as he may notice mistakes or omissions, or may sug- 
 gest improvements. 
 
 Never back your writing. That is to say, only 
 write on one side of the paper. This rule should be 
 strictly adhered to, as very often several compositors 
 " set up," or put into type, different parts of the 
 Manuscript at the same time, which could not be 
 done if the writing were backed ; consequently the 
 delay and inconvenience would be very great. 
 
 Keep a copy of your Manuscript. Write in left- 
 hand top corner of your Manuscript, " 2 proofs," 
 and put the date on which you send it. Put the 
 same date on the copy you retain. 
 
 Send your Manuscript to the Printer as soon as 
 possible, so as to avoid hurrying him unnecessarily. 
 Directly you receive the '' two proofs " from the 
 Printer's, with which he will return your Manuscript,
 
 197 
 
 called " copy," read one of the proofs and mark all 
 the requisite corrections. Then make similar correc- 
 tions in the other proof. Whenever you make an 
 alteration or correction, make a mark to point it out 
 in the margin. If you wish to see the printing after 
 it has been corrected, write " 2 Eevises " and the 
 date, in the left-hand top corner of both proofs. 
 Send one to the Printers, and place the other and the 
 "copy" from the Printers with your own " copy," 
 and keep them where they will be safe, and readily 
 at hand. If you do not wish to see the printing 
 after it has been corrected, write " Press " instead of 
 2 Revises. Directly you have received the two Re- 
 vise?!, which will be accompanied with your marked 
 first proof, compare one of them with it and make 
 corrections, if necessary. Then mark the other re- 
 vise similarly, marking " 2 Revises," or " Press," and 
 date as before upon each. If you write " Press," 
 the corrections will be made, and the printing will 
 take place immediately. Send one off to the Printer, 
 and place the other and the first proof from the 
 Printer with the Manuscripts, etc. Two great ad- 
 vantages arise from having two Proofs, etc. Refer- 
 ence can be made to one, while the other is at the 
 printer's, and in case the printer's copy gets lost or 
 damaged, the other can be used. 
 
 When having a book printed, it is desirable to 
 have the first proof in long columns, called " slips," 
 instead of in pages ; as words or sentences can be 
 more easily introduced or taken out. When the 
 pages are formed, an alteration may occasion inter- 
 ference with several of them, or even with all the 
 rest of the book. When an error has crept into a 
 paged proof, the best way to correct it, if possible, is 
 to insert as much wording as you take out, or to take 
 out as much wording as you insert, as near to the 
 
 E 3
 
 198 
 
 TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS. 
 
 
 "J 
 
 . J 
 
 and how to usg iLem, 
 
 iTT 
 
 /r 
 
 WILLIAM STOKES^^ 
 Tonchor of Kcmurj^ S" 
 
 /Thji, mi im iti g of Trsing TyPo^raPli^caU 
 
 lilaxksTvIIl be seen b^flicse.two pages. 
 
 In tiie^ iiraj? a. mnnbiiijbf rajsiakea aro 
 
 
 Icfj'i^^ ^ j^ And' t\x(SS^lx£\^J'\ly22E^^S^^ "^^ 
 
 ^y j reprodtrcecL bj 4i*©' umaiis of Balla^ 
 ^ RJii^tf typo, (riio second f» ago sliow^ tlie^ama 
 1 WDrdini^ ^"i 
 
 ' - ^ ^' 
 
 J Tlio nkmbGra in tlio first jrage ( 
 n/sm-. ij respond/ mtL i/to.';g in tliG' jiai 
 
 ft/OTTi'i 
 
 ^\ 
 
 ^arks^ 
 
 * 0) 
 
 ^/^ 
 
 ^^y}^ iUf ffit^^CjU^JU ^£{Af-0' &ein- ^ynjx/g^
 
 199 
 
 TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS, 
 
 AND HOW TO USE THEM, 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM STOKES, 
 Teacher of Memory. 
 
 The manner of using Tjpograpliical 
 Marks will be seen by comparing these 
 two pages. In the first a number of 
 mistakes are introduced, and the re- 
 quisite Typographical Marks are added 
 with the pen, the whole being repro- 
 duced by means of Dallas-type. 
 
 The second page shows the same 
 wording after the corrections have 
 been made. 
 
 The numbers in the first page cor- 
 respond with those in the List of 
 "Marks."
 
 200 
 TYPOGEAPHICAL MARKS. 
 
 ^ 0, <^ JnitlAt Iff* dtfefc*! Cjofcc <>utr.
 
 201 
 TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS. 
 
 J20. J„ cju^ fUwn. ^jt«£^, 
 
 V). (i^^ftlL tea.. 
 
 v7ku ait toMii of iW>-€A>ttg^ , «pc/ CayviJt 
 
 CuyyjX/ -f^o £ctea^ VU-6flai.J -A^wm^ O^ fvtWnJt^ to 
 
 .IrL^JcL tv amsAdcf ■yrvOA^cL /^Wo^A, gJ-
 
 202 
 
 altered part as can be managed. This saves the 
 trouble of spacing out, or the labour and expense of 
 overrunning the pages, or continuously putting part 
 of the type of one page on to another. 
 
 If type is imperfect, run your pen through it, and 
 write " battered " in the margin. 
 
 If you want words or lines to be divided, mark 
 them so as to indicate them, and write the word 
 "lead" in the margin. 
 
 If you do not wish the type to be dispersed, after it 
 has been used for printing, in case you may want 
 more copies, write " keep standing." 
 
 If you wish the matter to be stereotvped, write 
 "stereo." A metal cast will then be taken of it as 
 it stands, and the type used can be dispersed. 
 
 When engravings are to be printed, one of the 
 engraver's India paper proof-sheets of each engrav- 
 ing should be sent to the printer, so that he may see 
 how to " bring up," the blocks, or prepare them for 
 producing light and shade as intended. 
 
 A knowledge of the names of the different sizes 
 of paper and styles of type is advantageous. 
 
 
 ONE SHILUNC
 
 203 
 
 WEITING AN AID TO CONCENTRATION, 
 PERCEPTION, AND MEMORY. 
 
 Writing a copy of ordinary composition may 
 either be a merely mechanical process, or an interesc- 
 ing intellectual exercise. Many people are very de- 
 ficient in concentration, and almost invariably allow 
 their thoughts to wander while they are, " copying ;" 
 the result being that they do not produce a " copy,'* 
 but a combination of amusing specimens of omis- 
 sions, repetitions, and blunders, clearly showing 
 that " they could not have been thinking of what 
 they were about." Vigorous and repeated efforts 
 should be made to overcome this mental defect, the 
 mastery of which will give increased power of con- 
 centration, perception, and Memory. 
 
 The following fact will clearly show 
 
 One may write very well, and yet not know 
 
 The meaning of his writing. 
 As I saw the circumstance occur 
 I can with ease the truth aver 
 
 Of that which I'm inditing. 
 
 An Alphabetical Copy-head book 
 At which a School-boy had to look, 
 
 Contained hints from the sages : — 
 '• Govern your temper " — good advice ! 
 And " Honour your parents," in text-hand nice. 
 
 Were on one of its two-line pages. 
 
 •* Govern your," the boy wrote well, 
 But didn't either read or spell, 
 
 So made a shocking blunder : 
 " Parents," he wrote all down the page, 
 Complacently — till, in a rage 
 
 The master roared in thunder.
 
 204 
 
 WRITING, MEMORY, AND MNEMONICS. 
 
 A decidedly fictitious value is often set upon 
 Writing as an aid of Memory, especially in learning 
 by heart. (See " Stokes on Memory," seventy-ninth 
 edition, pages 67 to 69.) Writing a few words 
 clearly upon a slip of paper, and carefully noticing 
 them, will often impress them upon the Memory, so 
 that names of persons, topics of a speech, etc., may 
 be more easily retained than through ordinary repe- 
 tition ; but the skilful use of my Mnemonical Key is 
 infinitely better. 
 
 COMBINED WRITING AND SPELLING. 
 EXERCISES. 
 
 When you find it difficult to remember the spelling 
 of a word, ascertain how it is spelled, and write it 
 accurately several times, either in reality or imagina- 
 tion, by which means both your spelling and writing 
 will be improved. (See " Stokes on Memory," page 
 68.) Spelling, composition, and writing, may also 
 be improved by copying choice paragraphs from 
 books, newspapers, etc. Writing select pieces of 
 prose and verse from dictation is also very good 
 practice in these respects. 
 
 I have in manuscript a number of original Mne- 
 monics for the Rules for Spelling, and the Excep- 
 tions, and for spelling many isolated words which 
 are frequently spelled incorrectly; also suggestions 
 for the independent formation of special Mnemonics 
 by each learner, to suit his own requirements. • I 
 have put these Mnemonics and hints to test in prac- 
 tical teaching, and they have worked admirably and 
 bave been much liked. If any Principals of Schools,
 
 205 
 
 teachers, bad spellers, or others, wish my Ortho- 
 graphical Mnemonics to appear in print, I shall be 
 happy to receive a line from them, stating how 
 many copies they will require in the event of 
 publication. 
 
 Imperfect writing and bad spelling sometimes 
 produce remarkable results. 
 
 AN AP(E)-PALLING WARNING! 
 
 A gentleman wrote to a Captain at sea, 
 
 To ask, as a curious favour, if he 
 
 When he touched at a place at which monkeys abound, 
 
 Would bring him home two — if two choice could bo 
 
 found. 
 On the Captain's return, he wrote off to his friend, 
 To say that he hoped for his Monkeys he'd send, 
 Though he'd shipped a full hundred, and brought them 
 
 away. 
 On the passage some died, he was sorry to say. 
 So in spite of all care, he could only contrive 
 To bring him home eighty-six monkeys alive ! 
 The gentleman started, the gentleman stared ! 
 For eighty-six monkeys he wasn't prepared ! 
 Either he or the Captain had made a great blunder. 
 To think how it occurred overwhelmed him with wonder. 
 When his letter was read, nothing clearer could be, 
 He'd put t double o, and had not crossed his t. 
 Thus he'd eighty-six monkeys consigned to his dwelling, 
 As a little reward for bad writing and spelling ! 
 Gentle reader — and writer — and speller, beware ! 
 Remember the monkeys ! — take care — Oh, take care ! 
 
 COMBINED VOCABULARY AND WRITING 
 
 EXERCISES. 
 
 When you wish to learn Foreign Words, write 
 
 s
 
 206 
 
 each abstract word and its meaning together several 
 times, either in reality or in imagination ; and learn 
 the Foreign names of Nouns by writing them in 
 imagination uj)on the objects they represent, and 
 re-writing each name upon its object several times 
 mentally in precisely the same shaped letters. 
 
 PALM AND FINGER WRITING EXERCISES. 
 
 Writing with the fore finger of the right hand 
 upon the palm of the left hand is an admirable 
 exercise which can be practised at spare moments, 
 when ordinary writing exercises could not be at- 
 tempted. Various useful and amusing exercises can 
 also be produced by placing the fingers of the left 
 hand in different positions, by which letters and 
 parts of letters can be formed, which can be traced 
 with the forefinger of the right hand. 
 
 MENTAL WRITING EXERCISES. 
 
 Mental Writing Exercises are extremely valuable. 
 The formation, style, and combination of the letters 
 selected for mental practice should first be carefully 
 noticed, copied, and thoroughly fixed in the Memory; 
 after which, the letters, words, and sentences which 
 have been studied should be reproduced by the 
 mind's e3'^e, upon the same kind of paper, and in the 
 same locality as they were seen. This mental Exer- 
 cise should be repeated from time to time, and other 
 words and sentences should be written mentally ii\ 
 the same style of hand, using in imagination the 
 game kind of paper as before, or any other, according 
 to taste. 
 
 Mental writing may be agreeably executed with
 
 207 
 
 imaginary coloured ink, or upon imaginary coloured 
 paper. At first, the letters used in Mental Writing 
 should be slowl}'- and carefully formed and com- 
 bined ; but afterwards the speed should be increased, 
 and ultimately whole words or sentences, ready- 
 made, will appear instantly before the mind's eye at 
 pleasure. 
 
 With many people, the opportunities for practising 
 mental writing are frequent, while the opportunities 
 for practising ordinary writing are very rare. With 
 such, mental exercises are especially useful. Learn- 
 ers, however, often say that ihQj forget to go through 
 their mental exercises ; I therefore give the follow- 
 ing little hint, which, though peculiar, will be found 
 wonderfully effective. After receiving it, the sight 
 of a face will often suggest a mental writing Exer- 
 cise, and when once started, the exercise can embrace 
 the formation of all the large and small letters in 
 the Alphabet, in Alphabetical Order, or it can be 
 varied at pleasure. The value of this kind of sug- 
 gestion is attested by thousands who have employed 
 the same principle in using my " Capital Mnemonical 
 Globe," with which I produce Geographical Eemem- 
 brance by means of the face and head. See page l'6'6. 
 
 The letters of the Alphabet 
 
 Any moment you may trace ; 
 Of course, in fancy only, 
 
 Upon a person's face. 
 Each perfect face at which you look, 
 
 May always, if you please, 
 Suggest part of the Alphabet, 
 
 As eyes you see with ease! (I I, U, C, with EE.) 
 
 And let us hope that frequently 
 
 With truth it may be said, 
 You've other letters called to mind 
 
 Through seeing a wise head! (A, Y, Z.) 
 
 S 2
 
 208 
 
 If this you do, when others view 
 
 Your face, there will arise 
 In their admiring minds, the thought, 
 "O/i I see you are wise/'' (0, I, C, U, K, YY.) 
 
 MUSICAL WRITING EXERCISES. 
 
 Preliminary Writing Exercises may be rendered 
 fascinating by the aid of Musical Accompaniments, 
 either audible or mental. Any tune will serve as an 
 accompaniment, from the most pensive hymn to the 
 liveliest gallop. These exercises should be practised 
 upon waste paper, and the movements should be 
 made with the utmost freedom. The hand should be 
 allowed to keep pace with the tune, and various 
 short or long straight lines, loops, curves, or flourishes, 
 should be made at random, as the tune may suggest. 
 Polkas, waltzes, gallops, etc., will suggest exercises 
 in endless variety, and thousands of well-formed 
 lines may thus be produced in a few minutes. A 
 movement in writing will often suggest a tune to 
 which it can be repeated. 
 
 POETICAL WRITING EXERCISES. 
 
 The Memory may be refreshed and strengthened, 
 the taste cultivated, and the Art of Writing practised 
 by writing carefully, in reality or in imagination, 
 any choice pieces of poetry which can be called to 
 mind. 
 
 WRITING AND SPEECH. 
 
 Distinct articulation in speaking demands legi- 
 bility in writing. Many people who are choice in 
 their selection of words in ordinary conversation,
 
 209 
 
 who express their ideas clearly and forcibly, and who 
 are careful and distinct in their articulation, write 
 such an illegible hand that it is painfully perplexing, 
 or impossible to decipher their letters. They woulf' 
 sometimes be almost horror-stricken if they could 
 hear the broken imperfect rendering of their written 
 thoughts, which would convey anything but the idea 
 that they were easy agreeable speakers. 
 
 A MOTHER'S INFERENCE I 
 
 It is said, a poor old lady 
 
 "Who writing could not read, 
 One day received a letter, 
 
 And trotted off with speed — 
 
 To a neighbour she thought learned, 
 
 As she said she'd little doubt, 
 If she only saw the writing 
 
 She at once could make it out. 
 
 She said she had three sons at sea, 
 
 And each a dear brave boy; 
 No doubt this letter came from one, 
 
 Which filled her heart with joy I 
 
 Her friend said, very kindly. 
 
 She'd comply with her request; 
 Read, " Dear mother," — and then halted 
 
 At writing not the best. 
 
 She aloud made many efforts 
 
 To decipher what was there ; 
 When the mother said, with rapture, 
 
 " It's from my Boh, I declare ! " j 
 
 The friend looked up with wonder, 
 For she'd not one sentence uttered ; 
 
 *• It must be Bob's," the mother said, 
 " Poor lad, he always stuttered/'' 
 
 S3
 
 210 
 
 Those who write indistinctly often annoy those to 
 whom they write, and also cause themselves to be 
 treated with neglect, and subjected to inconvenience. 
 
 A MYSTEBY SOLVED. 
 
 " I sent you a long letter. 
 
 It is strange you didn't heed it." 
 " You sent me such a horrid scrawl 
 
 I really couldn't read it 1 " 
 
 ''Indeed ! I'm very sorry. 
 
 Every time I write a letter, 
 I'll remember, if I wish it rcad^ 
 I must write a great deal better ! " 
 
 I know a gentleman who wrote to the lady who is 
 now his wife, making her an offer of marriage, but 
 he wrote so badly that she innocently asked him to 
 explain what he meant ; not dreaming that his letter 
 contained such a proposal. 
 
 The following little quotation from my Anti-Non- 
 sensical Nursery Rhymes in words of One Syllable, 
 is not unworthy of the notice of adults : — 
 
 WRITE A CLEAR HAND. 
 
 Try to write with ease and speed 
 A good clear hand which all may read ; 
 For those who scrawl, their friends do vex, 
 And make them oft as cross as X. 
 
 A HINT. 
 
 I strongly recommend the suggestions in this Book 
 to many who think they do not require them. Those 
 whose writing is very faulty and illegible are often 
 not aware of the fact, and would be surprised if
 
 211 
 
 any imperfection were pointed out to them. This 
 is not at all to be wondered at, as it is so very com- 
 mon for us to be unconscious of our own defects 
 Some years ago I told a person who had an impedi- 
 ment in his speech, that if he liked, I would 
 gladly give him some Memory hints which would 
 put him in the way of speaking freely, as I had 
 been successful with others who used to stammer and 
 stutter; to which he replied — " Tha-a-ank you ! — bur- 
 ur-ut I do-o-on't s-ta-a-ammer, or st-st-st-ur-stur- 
 ur-ur utter ! " 
 
 WRITINa AND LOVE ! 
 
 Writing may prove of priceless value to a pining 
 lover, as shown in 
 
 CUPID'S PUNS ON PENS, INK, AND PAPER 1 
 
 Pens-ive why sit lamenting, distance great 
 Between thy love and thee is placed by Fate ? 
 JnA;-lings of joy may, if thou wilt, be thine ;— 
 Convey thy love-thoughts in a fervent line ! 
 Pay per-severmglj attention thus, and she 
 May, though far distant, promise thine to be 1 
 
 Strange as it may appear, the effect of bad writing 
 is sometimes almost heart-breaking. 
 
 A PATHETIC BALLAD. 
 
 FOUNDED ON FACTS ! 
 
 "When Charlie saw sweet Clara, 
 
 At the first glance he was smitten : 
 
 He said soft things, and spoke in smiles. 
 And shortly there was written —
 
 212 
 
 By Charlie to the charming girl, 
 
 A courteous friendly letter ; 
 Hinting how strangely thoughts of love. 
 
 The human heart can fetter. 
 
 Sweet Clara wrote a prompt reply, 
 She thought with him precisely ; 
 
 Her words occasioned Charlie grief, 
 Although they pleased him nicely. 
 
 He read her letter o'er and o'er, 
 
 With joy, and fond affection; 
 He read her letter o'er and o'er, 
 
 In absolute dejection. 
 
 He wished to make sweet Clara hia, 
 
 In matrimony lawful ; 
 She was indeed a lovely girl, 
 
 But her writing xvas " most awful ! *• 
 
 He thought that this defect of hers. 
 Would his fond hopes be bKghting ; 
 
 But all went well, and they were wed, 
 Through " Stokes's Eapid Writing ! " 
 
 TEACHERS OF WRITING. 
 
 In learning Writing, all who are in a position 
 to secure the services of a good teacher will do well 
 to do so, as there are many matters connected with 
 the Art which he could explain and illustrate clearly 
 and quickly, which, if put into print, would be per- 
 plexing and tedious ; in addition to which almost 
 every learner at starting falls unconsciously into 
 some particular error, which requires checking before 
 it becomes a confirmed habit. Those who can afford 
 to pay for professional instruction should remember 
 that it is worth having, and should have it in pre- 
 ference to blundering by themselves, or taxing the 
 kindness of their friends for assistance, but those
 
 213 
 
 who cannot afford to pay for Lessons may generally 
 get a few hints from some good and good-natured 
 writer without much difficulty. Tne aids given in 
 this book may with advantage be used by all teachers 
 and learners, and will add to the speed and success 
 of both. 
 
 PERSEVERE. 
 
 If you do not progress as rapidly as you desire, do 
 not be disheartened, but remember that some of the 
 best writers were slow and awkward at first, and 
 only overcame their defects by persevering effort. 
 Not only in Writing but in everything else, diffi- 
 culties must be expected, and mastering those con- 
 nected with writing, may serve as good training for 
 higher endeavours. 
 
 First attempts are often failures, 
 
 But from failure comes success ; 
 
 And sometimes the greatest blunders 
 
 Tend at last the world to bless ! 
 
 WRITING CONTESTS. 
 
 I am desirous to promote Local, National, and In- 
 ternatioDal Writing Contests, as I feel sure that they 
 would be productive of great good. Much Caligra- 
 phic talent is in obscurity, and requires bringing out, 
 and still more is at present undeveloped. 
 
 If some of our Continental neighbours will take a 
 friendly hint, they will adopt the English free, bold, 
 open, legible style, as a substitute for their own, 
 which is far more difficult of execution, and is much 
 less clear. 
 
 I shall be happy to assist in making arrangements 
 for Writing Contests, as far as may be in my power, 
 and can occasionally offer a few PRIZES. Offers of 
 co-operation will oblige.
 
 214 
 
 SPECIMENS OF WRITING, ETC. 
 Specimens of Writing. Books upon Writing, etc., 
 or information as to where they may be seen or ob- 
 tained, will be received with thanks. See page 147. 
 
 STOKES ON MEMORY AT THE 
 , POLYTECHNIC. 
 See page 149. 
 
 In my Lectures which are frequently given at the 
 Royal Polytechnic Institution, — with which I have 
 j)een connected for more than ten years, — I present 
 a variety of proofs of the speed and power with 
 which the Memory can be called into action. Nu- 
 merous pupils give illustrations of a most extraordi- 
 nary kind, in fact, perform a number of generally 
 supposed ^'- impossibilities ! '^ Many of my Mnemon- 
 ical inventions are explained and illustrated by 
 means of large diagrams, and in some of the tests 
 the entire audience often take part. Memory Illus- 
 trations, connected with the Art of Writing are from 
 time to time introduced. Practical applications of 
 my System of Memory are shown, as illustrated and 
 taught by me at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, 
 and at many of the leading Educational and Scien- 
 tific Institutions in different parts of the Kingdom ; 
 and, upon suitable occasions, many experiments are 
 given in the form of an Entertainment, with such 
 success, that in Chambers'' Journal^ and other organs 
 of the Press, I have been designated the '•''Magician 
 of Memory /" The admission to one of these Mem- 
 ory Demonstrations at the Polytechnic is One Shil- 
 ling, including all the other Lectures and Entertain- 
 ments, many of which are most interesting and 
 valuable, and can be seen only at this Institution. 
 Every resident and visitor of London should make a 
 
 (
 
 215 
 
 point of paying an early visit to this deservedly popu- 
 lar place of Entertainment and instruction ; and 
 Schools should visit it periodically. Many of the 
 optical, electrical, and other appliances, are not sim- 
 ply the best in the Kingdom, but the finest in the 
 World, and there is a constant introduction of fresh 
 attractions. Principals of Schools, Secretaries of 
 Societies, Heads of Business Firms, and others desir- 
 ous of arranging for large numbers to be present at 
 my Lectures, can obtain further information of me 
 upon application. Omnibuses from all parts of Lon- 
 don go near to the Polytechnic, and some pass it. 
 By Metropolitan Railway, book for " Regent Circus," 
 and " change " at Portland Road. From the Metro- 
 politan Omnibuses you can alight at the Polytechnic 
 Doors. In either wet or dry weather the Polytech- 
 nic Entertainments can be enjoyed. Those who wisk 
 to take my Lessons are reminded that my Residence 
 is within two minutes' walk from the Polytechnic, so 
 that the same facilities are available for reaching it. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE MEMORY LESSONS, Etc. 
 
 Those desirous of taking my Memory Lessons will 
 find particulars on pages 231 to 233, and in " Stokes 
 on Memory." To meet the requirements of those to 
 whom it is inconvenient or impossible to see me, I 
 have greatly increased my faciUties for teaching by 
 Correspondence. They have proved very successful, 
 and great satisfaction has been expressed by those 
 ladies and gentlemen who have learned thus. I have 
 Correspondence Pupils not only in various parts of 
 the United Kingdom, but on the Continent, in 
 America, India, China, Australia, and in almost all 
 parts of the World. Many have achieved remarkable
 
 216 
 
 results, and are most kind and enthusiastic advocates 
 of my System, I can teach a single pupil, a family, 
 a Class, or a School, by Correspondence ; and I endeav- 
 our to suit the special requirements of each learner, 
 as regards the suggestions and exercises sent, and the 
 time occupied in supplying them. Should an oppor- 
 tunity occur, Correspondence pupils can take a course 
 of Class Lessons of me, in London, or elsewhere, 
 without additional fee. 
 
 Many public speakers, students, and others 'in va- 
 rious walks of life, have declared my Correspondence 
 Lessons have proved invaluable to them, and have 
 afforded them much amusement ; see Testimonials, 
 pages 257, and 266-272. 
 
 My terms for teaching by Correspondence are Five 
 Guineas for one pupil, and One Guinea for each 
 additional pupil taught by me at the same time, with 
 the understanding that those instructed shall not 
 communicate the method to others. For a class of 
 Twelve or more pupils taught by Correspondence my 
 Fee is One Guinea each. 
 
 A pupil wishing to communicate my System, can 
 do so if the person about to be taught sends me One 
 Guinea. I then write to the sender of the Fee, in- 
 closing a printed receipt, and I post a letter and a set 
 of lesson papers to the pupil volunteering the in- 
 struction. 
 
 If the New IMnemonics mentioned on page 161, of 
 "Stokes on Memory," are required, the extra charge 
 for each pupil is Five Shillings ; for which amount, 
 some additional papers, of great value, not on the 
 list, are supplied. 
 
 To save time, proposed Correspondence Pupils 
 should state that they agree not to teach others, and 
 Bhould make their Post Office Orders payable at 
 Vere Street, London, W. It is desirable, but not ab-
 
 217 
 
 solutely necessary, that they should send their Photo- 
 graph, as it may serve as a valuable guide to me in 
 giving my suggestions. 
 
 Those who desire to take private Correspondence 
 Lessons, or who wish to form or join a Correspond- 
 ence Class, should write to me immediately, and, if 
 possible, they will be answered by return of post. 
 
 MEMORY WRITING LESSONS. 
 
 In compliance with urgent requests, I sometimes 
 give Memory Writing Lessons, both personally and 
 by Correspondence ; and, from the successful results, 
 the applications are so numerous that I am often 
 compelled to decline, as my ordinary lecturing, 
 teaching, and literary duties, cannot be neglected ; 
 but I have made arrangements for assistance, which 
 I trust will meet all demands. Terras may be had 
 upon stating requirements. For Criticism of Writ- 
 ing, with suggestions for its improvement, either 
 personally or by post, 10s. 6d. See pages 279-282. 
 
 MEMORY SHORTHAND LESSONS. 
 
 My System of Memory is a great aid in acquiring 
 Shorthand. Beyond explaining its general applica- 
 tion to Shorthand in my ordinary Memory Lessons, I 
 do not teach it; but I can introduce competent 
 teachers of Shorthand to supplement my Lessons, 
 when required. 
 
 VARIOUS SUPPLEMENTARY LESSONS. 
 
 Those of my Pupils who are desirous of acquiring 
 various Languages, Music, etc., and of pursuing 
 different studies under the guidance of able instructors 
 
 T
 
 218 
 
 who teach upon my plan, can obtain their services 
 through me. Modern Languages by Eminent Native 
 Professors : preparation for Examinations by Gradu- 
 ates of the tFniversities, and others. 
 
 STOKESIAN SCHOOLS. 
 
 Parents can place their Sons and Daughters in 
 Schools in which they will be encouraged and aided 
 in the practical application of my System for their 
 Scholastic Work, under my special guidance, in 
 London, in the Country, and by the Sea. Terms 
 various, up to £200 per annum. 
 
 STOKESIAN SERIES OF MEMORY - AIDING 
 WORKS, Etc. 
 
 This popular Series of Works, costly and elegant 
 in production, but low in price, exhibited in the 
 International Exhibition, 1871 ; South Kensington 
 Museum, etc., published by Messrs. Houlston & Sons, 
 7, Paternoster Buildings, London, E.C., may be 
 obtained of all Booksellers, and at the Railway 
 Stations, or direct of myself, by return of post, for 
 stamps or P. 0. Order. The Globe may also be had 
 at Toy Shops and Fancy Repositories. A Guinea 
 Sorted Packet of my Works, containing Books, etc., 
 of the postal value of £1 10s. M., may be had of 
 wyse^fo/i/y, carriage free to any part of the king- 
 dom for 21s. 
 
 Purchasers sometimes order one or more of the 
 Books weekly, till they complete the Series. 
 
 The Works may be seen at my Residence, 15, 
 Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, London, W. 
 Parents, Teachers, Principals of Schools, and otliers, 
 making known their requirements, can be guided as
 
 219 
 
 to their selection, if desired. Post OfEce Orders 
 should be made payable to Mr. William Stokes, at 
 Vere Street, London, W. Cheques should be crossed 
 " London and County Bank, Oxford Street." 
 
 Active Agents Wanted Everywhere. Show 
 Bills, etc., may be had free on application. 
 
 The whole of this Memory- Aiding Series may be 
 understood easily, and when intelligently explained 
 by an Agent, a large number of Books, Globes, etc., 
 may often be sold. Some of the Appliances are 
 sure to suit the requirements of any person to whom 
 they may be introduced, as they range from the 
 "A, B, C" to the highest phases of study. 
 
 PROPHETIC! 
 
 Often when using Pen and Ink, 
 
 Of " Stokes on Memory " you'll think, 
 
 "Without the least intention 
 Of doing so, 
 And thus you'll know, 
 His plan on principles ia based, 
 Which in the mind can soon be traced, 
 
 And is a sound invention. 
 Objects suggest to every mind 
 Thoughts, -which it never else would find 
 
 So quickly or so clearly. 
 Ere you reject Suggestion's Laws, 
 •' Observe, reflect," and wisely pause, 
 
 Or pay the cost most dearly ! 
 
 HELP. 
 
 Many well-disposed people who might often do a 
 little good for a great object, which little good might 
 result in much good, regret that they could do " so 
 liltle " — and therefore do nothing I Many who could 
 
 T 2
 
 220 
 
 not endow a College, found a Professorship, organise a 
 School, or devote their life to teaching, might confer 
 immense benefit upon a few of their fellow-creatures 
 by giving them a little Educational assistance — al- 
 though such aid is often ungratefully rejected. In 
 reference to Writing, I trust this book will afford 
 every Reader the means of giving useful hints to 
 those requiring them. 
 
 If each would check vain and unwise lamenting 
 Of want of power, and strive to do his best ; 
 
 Self-imposed grief at once he'd be preventing, 
 Joy's loveliest flowers would blossom in his breast 1 
 
 If each would be a patient, loving, teacher 
 
 Of those who'd take him as their guiding friend, 
 
 "What smiles would light up many a gloomy feature. 
 And ! what pleasure gratitude would lend I 
 
 'Tis true our actions may not be recorded, 
 Nor e'en be noticed as we think they should ; 
 
 But though we know we shall be unrewarded, 
 Let us do right from the pure love of good ! 
 
 The condition of many who have been nominally 
 " taught " to write by methods which have been ex- 
 tensively adopted, is painful in the extreme ; their 
 patience and perseverance have been unduly taxed ; 
 they have been perplexed beyond measure, and hav- 
 ing made little or no progress, they have given up in 
 despair. Many bitterly lament their condition, and 
 would most gladly avail themselves of genuine assist- 
 ance. Practically, if not in words, they entreat for 
 intelligent aid, — and surely this shall not be in vain. 
 
 A brain in which there dwells not thought; 
 
 A heart untenanted by feeling ; 
 Alone can take such facts as nought, 
 
 And disregard such strong appealing.
 
 221 
 
 If every reader of this little Book would try either 
 directly or indirectly to teach only one person to write 
 by its assistance, what avast amount of good might 
 result. Registrars of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 
 and similar Public Officers, could reveal facts which 
 would startle those who are under the delusion that 
 nobody needs any hints upon Writing ; and in the 
 words of Shakespeare they might exclaim, " T thank 
 God I have been so well brought up that I can write 
 my name ! " (2 Henry VI., Act IV., Scene 2). 
 
 I trust the advocacy of close observation, careful 
 reflection, skilful association, patient perseverance, 
 and kindred habits, will not prove distasteful or un- 
 profitable to those who favour me with the perusal of 
 these pages, although unfortunately to some people 
 such suggestions are regarded with contempt : 
 
 At truth they carp — at error friendly nod, 
 With Bouls rebellious to the laws of God. 
 
 Pupils and others often kindly express the hope 
 that I shall be able further to develop and propagate 
 and to perpetuate my System of Memory, of which 
 this Rapid Writing is a kind of offshoot. I hope so 
 too ; and I am doing the best I can with a view to 
 these objects,— but all does not rest with me. I in- 
 vite the immediate co-operation of my friends and 
 the public, as life is always uncertain, and when 
 longest short It is more kind and more practical to 
 help a man during his life, than to express wishes 
 and regrets after his decease. 
 
 A DREAM OF DEATH. 
 
 I woke up suddenly, when I'd been dreaming, 
 And when awake, I asked, " Am I asleep ?" 
 
 I gazed around — reality was seeming 
 But as a di-eam — my dream its place would keep 1 
 
 T 3
 
 222 
 
 I had been dreaming that grim Death stood o'er me 
 With scythe uplifted, and malicious grin, 
 
 As I awoke with san-lit fields before me, 
 
 While one, fresh, flowery, I'd been slumbering in. 
 
 My ghastly visitor, in accents hollow, 
 
 Said, "Why, my friend, thus slumbering here recline ? 
 Your lifetime now is ended — you must follow 
 
 Me to the realms of sleep, — you now are mine." 
 
 I said " Death ! thou surely must be jesting. 
 Truth in thy words I trust there cannot be ; 
 
 Though I've been sleeping, I have but been resting;" — 
 " Up then," he said, " and work— for you are free 1" 
 
 That dream I've oft re-pictured, though unpleasant ; 
 
 Death, in his visit in the dreamy past, 
 Has made me very highly prize the present. 
 
 That I may be prepared for him at last ! 
 
 If you intend to do anything, if possible, do it 
 TO-DAY ! 
 
 Yesterday, to-day was to-morrow, 
 
 The present was future to all ; 
 We knew not if life, joy, or sorrow, 
 
 To us as our portion would fall. 
 We thus are a boon now enjoying. 
 
 For which we have anxiously sighed ; 
 One on which we our hopes have been buoying, 
 
 As we've swiftly been borne on Life's tide ! 
 
 To-morrow, to-day will be yesterday, 
 
 For ever gone — part of the past ; 
 We shall feel we've well-used, or have missed a day 
 
 In performing life's duties so vast. 
 Let these thoughts with fresh vigour inspire us. 
 
 To value each day of each seven : 
 May they ever with holy zeal fire us, 
 
 And lift our souls nearer to Heaven !
 
 223 
 
 lo suppose that there are not many thousands of 
 intelligent thinkers who would gladly co-operate 
 with me, would be insulting to humanity. This 
 thought is cheering, and as something should be done, 
 I have founded the 
 
 STOKESIAN INSTITUTE OF MEMORY, 
 
 at present only in its acorn state, but from which 
 may eventually be developed the Majestic Mnemonic 
 Oak. Let me but have hearty general support, 
 and England shall see not simply a noble structure 
 which Mnemosyne may proudly call her own, but I 
 will establish one of the most useful and powerful 
 organizations ever known — one which shall exert a 
 World-wide influence on future generations. As 
 Memory is interwoven with every phase of thought, 
 and is one of the most important faculties of the 
 mind; as neglect of its culture involves needless toil, 
 withered hopes, and blighted prospects, and is one 
 of the most annoying, costly, and disastrous griev- 
 ances of the age; apathy, ridicule, and opposition 
 may reasonably be expected from many, yet proper 
 effort should be made. The general dissemination 
 of the Art of Writing was at one time declared to 
 be absurd and iniquitous. The introduction of Cop- 
 per-plate Engraving was afterwards opposed, as 
 lending to vulgarize the Art of Writing; and, subse- 
 quently, Steam Printing was so obnoxious, that those 
 who first practised it did so at the risk of their 
 lives ; and as if to make a mockery of our boasted 
 advancement and high intelligence, the Art of 
 Memory, — simple, beautiful, humane, and successful, 
 — is unknown to the masses, through the prejudice, 
 neglect, and opposition with which it has had to 
 '•ontend.
 
 224 
 
 Active brains, true hearts, ready tongues, able 
 pens, and open purses, are required in united effort. 
 There are organizations which are well supported 
 for far less worthy objects ; and a few Thousand 
 Pounds bestowed upon this would produce special 
 results hitherto unattained, and at the same time 
 would indirectly further the interests of many of the 
 noblest projects of the day. 
 
 I have spent a very large amount ef money and 
 labour upon getting the System into its present 
 development, but it is impossible for me or anybody 
 else, single handedly to effect all the good to be de- 
 sired. Tens of thousands of teachers, and hundreds 
 of thousands of learners, may share the benefit of 
 my success at very nominal individual expense, if 
 those who have the power will step forward and do 
 their duty. All who have the will may certainly do 
 something in behalf of the System, as the modes ih 
 which aid may be afforded are very varied ; and in 
 some cases, if desired, it may be to the pecuniary 
 advantage of those who assist. 
 
 I shall be happy to receive communications upon 
 the subject, and to be favoured with the names and 
 addresses of 
 
 VOLUNTEER HONORARY HELPERS 
 from any town and village in England, and from all 
 parts of the World. Papers for distribution will be 
 sent post free. 
 
 ANNUAL SUBSCRIBERS 
 
 Of One Guinea are entitled to the following advant- 
 ages : — 
 
 Can attend the Illustrative Lectures given at my 
 ResideiK^. on Tuesdays, at 2 and at 7.15 p.m., at
 
 225 
 
 Half-price ; and can admit their friends to these 
 Lectures at Half-price (Sixpence Each). 
 
 Can nominate two pupils annually, for Memory 
 Lessons at Half-fee ; such nomination to be ac- 
 companied with the written assurance that the Pu- 
 pils thus introduced are not in a position to pay the 
 full Fee. 
 
 Can obtain a Guinea Pictorial Multiplication 
 Table for 16s. ; and a hundred Id. Pictorial Multi- 
 plication Tables for 4.s. 
 
 Can secure for a School the services of an Assist- 
 ant to Explain and Illustrate the mode of teaching 
 the Pictorial Multiplication Table, Memory Globe, 
 etc., for Half a Guinea a Lesson, and travelling ex- 
 penses. 
 
 Annual Subscribers, if Memory Pupils, can have 
 the advantage of Special Memory Exercises, and can 
 report progress the first Monday in every Month. 
 
 I commend to parents, teachers, and all interested 
 in education, the suggestions given in this book, and 
 those I have supplied in " Stokes on Memory " and 
 elsewhere, upon Memory in relation to teaching, as 
 most extraordinary results may be secured by very 
 simple means. 
 
 Here is no idle fancy of an enthusiast's brain, 
 But the result of years of toil almost approaching pain. 
 Here nought has been suggested before it has been tried, 
 But each plan has been tested with experience on its side. 
 Here is no favoured project; its treatment has been rough, 
 It has borne many a haughty sneer, and many a rude re- 
 buff. 
 It has most humbly asked respect of leaders of mankind, 
 But it too oft has had neglect, and not a friend could find. 
 And ever-busy talkers presumed with scorn and jest 
 To treat a simple principle they'd not the brain to test.
 
 226 
 
 By contrast they did service, though no credit rests with 
 
 them, 
 'Tis well that they cried, *' "Worthless Paste ! " to him Avho 
 
 held a gem. 
 If they no value could perceive, they demonstrated then, 
 The power to appreciate belonged to better men ! 
 
 To the Principals of Schools the adoption of the 
 Stokesian System is worthy of consideration, as a 
 pecuniary advantage. It has been proved that better 
 results are secured by its use than by non-Mnemoni- 
 cal instruction, its merits are very widely known, 
 and there is a demand for Schools in which it is 
 thoroughly carried out. Cases have sometimes hap- 
 pened in which the Principals of Schools have been 
 decided losers through rejecting it, as pupils whom 
 they might easily have secured have been placed 
 with others. 
 
 Their adverse answers I can thus repeat. 
 And make a triumph each supposed defeat ! 
 
 As the S3''stem can be introduced at any School, 
 no Principal need remain at a disadvantage in the 
 matter. 
 
 The System has been so long, so extensively, and so 
 successfully used by my kind and able supporters, 
 that it is truly astonishing so many people of ac- 
 credited sense in other matters should allow them- 
 selves to be objects of ridicule in respect to this. 
 Practically they will not admit that the Memory re- 
 quires aid, or that it can be aided. 
 
 Some men, if asked to play the part of fools, 
 Ignore experience, and deride her rules. 
 To wrath and indignation would give vent, 
 They'd rave and Btorxn, and ask you what you meant.
 
 227 
 
 Their temper thus, thomgh, you need not be tasking, 
 You'll find they'll act like fools without your asking ! 
 
 The subject of Memory and its cultivation ought 
 to claim the attention of everybody, as it is of vital 
 importance in respect to the comfort and prosperity 
 of the community generally ; but numbers pass it 
 by- 
 
 For home matters they give a contemptuous smile, 
 Being much more concerned in the Source of the Nile 1 
 
 Others grant all that is said in favour of Memory, 
 but yet contrive to do nothing for it, as they "really 
 have no time." 
 
 That their duties almost overwhelm them, 
 
 With emphasis they will declare : 
 And will keep you an hour in proving 
 
 They have n't a minute to spare ! 
 
 I know that some of my pupils and supporters 
 would smile at the idea of deserving any thanks, 
 praise, or admiration, for having taken up the System ; 
 but if the statements and excuses of others be real, 
 my friends deserve very high esteem, and they are 
 extraordinary people. Facts clearly show that a great 
 part of the community either have no inclination, or 
 no oppoitunity to do as they should. 
 
 To duty they're guilty of treason, 
 But excuses they readily bring ; 
 
 As they've always a very good reason, 
 For doing a very bad thing I
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Ph 
 
 Q 
 
 228 
 
 OQ Eh O M H cQ 
 
 a 
 
 -2 .-^ 
 
 « 2 
 
 s a 
 
 a 
 
 a « 
 
 g -2 
 
 -^ 9 
 
 bO oi 
 
 § 2 
 
 -^ ^ 
 
 ■♦a 13 
 
 a 
 
 gi I 
 
 H O W H oa 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 'ft 
 
 s t 
 
 OQ E-i O M W
 
 229 
 
 To many the Memory hints in this book will prove 
 of greater value than the suggestions upon Writing. 
 They will give them a new line of thought, and will 
 produce an improvement in mental action. But I 
 must ask those who have only a knowledge of my 
 System through these pages, to remember the fact 
 that such knowledge is very limited, and that if they 
 wish to do justice to the System, and to themselves, 
 they will immediately give it further attentdon. With 
 the facilities afforded by writing and cheap postage, 
 my inexpensive Publications can be obtained of me 
 direct, without delay. Those who wish to commu- 
 nicate with me further, can do so ; and Memory 
 Lessons can easily be had. 
 
 '' Stokes on Memory " can be obtained for perusal 
 at many free Public Libraries, or for One Shilling of 
 all Booksellers, and at the Railway Stations. Those 
 who have copies of the early editions, will find much 
 additional and valuable matter in the later issues. 
 
 I feel particularly indebted to the Art of Writing 
 for the pleasure it has afforded me in communicating 
 a few of my ideas to you "dear," "gentle," "fair," 
 " kind," " patient," " learned," " experienced,'* " cri- 
 tical," " sympathetic," " appreciative," or, at all 
 events, " esteemed^''' Reader ! I trust we may agree- 
 ably meet again mentally many times, and with 
 thanks and best wishes, 
 I remain, 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 WILLIAM STOKES.
 
 280 
 
 ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION 
 
 (limited), 
 • 309, REGENT STREET, LONDON, W. 
 
 MR. WILLIAM STOKES, 
 PEOFESSOR OF MNEMONICS, 
 
 LEOTXJPtES 
 
 UPON 
 
 NATURAL & AHTIFICIAL MEMORY, 
 
 AT THK 
 
 ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION, 
 
 Or at his Residence, 15, Margaret-St., Cavendish-Sq.t 
 Every Tuesday, at 2, and 7.15. 
 
 Admission-, One Shilling. 
 
 AND 
 
 TWO DISTINCT CLASSES; 
 
 EaCrh for Ladies and Gentlemen, fire commenced on the same day ; 
 one at Three o'clock, and the other at half-past Eight. 
 Second Lesson every Wed nesda}-, and Third Lesson every Thurs- 
 day, at the same hours. Pupils can attend on three consecutive 
 jays, or can allow an interval of a week between the Lessons. 
 ^^ Other Private and Class Tuition by arrangement. 
 
 During the Course of Lectures, various wonderful illustrations 
 are given by Mr. Stukes and his Pupils ; and his auditors, after 
 two or three minutes' instruction, are enablt;d to test the efficiency 
 of his system for themselves, by bearing in mind with perfect ease 
 and accuracy, and repeating either forwards or backwards, oi 
 naming numerically, a list of words having no natural connec- 
 tion, dictated by the company, &.c., &c. Children instructed by 
 Mr. Stokes perform the following feats :— learn a hundred or 
 more figures called out at random ; and, without having seen 
 them, repeat them from left to right, or from right to left ;— will 
 also say them in groups of three, oi quote the first, second, or 
 third figure of any group, or name any group backwards, &c ;— 
 commit to memory arbiti-ary vocabularies, &ic. ;— learn short-hand 
 letters at first -sight ;— repeat the most dillicult pieces of prose and 
 verse; — also couutlcBs dates aud scicniific facUi, with startling 
 rapidity. 
 
 lUcaiJT Testimonials from Privatk, Clabs, SOHooi^ 
 
 AKD COIIRESPONDKNCK PUPILS.
 
 231 
 
 STOKES'S SYSTEM OF MEMOES. 
 
 Memory has been regarded as a faculty of primary 
 importance by the intelligent of all ages. Valuable 
 aids to memory were in use long before the Christian 
 era ; and numerous attempts have since been made 
 to simplify them, and render them generally avail- 
 able. Their original propounders mostly accom- 
 plished feats of Memory, which, to the uninitiated, 
 appeared beyond the power of man ; but, unfortu- 
 nately, many defective plans were also introduced, 
 and the better systems were ultimately so badly 
 taught, and so imperfectly learned, that the Science 
 of Mnemonics sunk into disrepute, and is now com 
 paratively unknown. 
 
 Mr. Stokes's method is extremely simple, — may be 
 learned with pleasure by any one of moderate ca- 
 pacity, — and invariably benefits those who adopt it. 
 It has been pronounced to possess " all the advantages 
 of the best Systems, beautifully and skilfully com- 
 bined with a large share of originality," and is free 
 from the objections co^nmonly raised against othe? 
 plans. 
 
 It improves the Memory generally, saves much 
 time, and considerably lessens mental labour. It ia 
 an important aid in the classification of ideas, and 
 in the concentration of thought. It greatly increases 
 the power of remembering names and dates. Ir 
 facilitates the acquirement of Languages, Sciences, 
 
 U2
 
 232 
 
 and Arts ; and is of inestimable utility in ex tempo* 
 raneous speaking, and in verbal reporting. 
 
 By its aid, any person of average ability may easilj 
 learn long and difficult pieces of composition, both 
 prose and verse ; can retain an unlimited number of 
 words or ideas in any required order, so as to recol- 
 lect, with astonishing accuracy, the principal points 
 of a sermon, speech, lecture, conversation, book, 
 newspaper, etc., etc. ; and can commit to memory 
 not only thousands of dates, but facts and figures 
 generally, such as statistics, etc., viz., length and 
 breadth of countries, populations, tables of mortality, 
 product of taxes, height of mountains, length of 
 rivers, latitudes and longitudes, astronomical dis- 
 tances and magnitudes, velocities, chemical analyses, 
 specific gravities, logarithms, etc., etc. 
 
 It quickens and expands the intellect, cheers the 
 spirits, gives self-reliance, and diminishes the pro- 
 bability of over-taxing the faculties. By its assist- 
 ance an intelh'gent child may compete with a 
 " talented " adult ; and a person of average ability 
 may perform feats of Memory beyond the power of 
 unaided ** genius." By means of this System, effects 
 can be produced with ease in a few minutes, which, 
 by ordinary processes, require months, or even years, 
 of laborious application. Thus Mr. Stokes enables 
 public speakers to dispense with the use of notes, 
 after five minutes' instruction. He has also invented 
 a method for teaching children the MultiplicatioD 
 Table in less than half an hour, at the expiration of 
 which time the severest cross-examination may b€ 
 submitted to. 
 
 Doubt not, but investigate, and eve the living 
 fToofa. 
 
 The System is equally serviceable to the student 
 and the man of business, and is also invaluable to
 
 233 
 
 ladies. In short, it is usefal to anybody in remem- 
 bering ANYTHING. 
 
 Mr. Stokes has nOb only taught the general public 
 with surprising results, but has been signally success- 
 ful in improving " dull boys," individuals advanced 
 in years, persons of defective intellect, the blind, 
 and the deaf and dumb. 
 
 Two distinct classes, each for ladies and gentle- 
 men, are commenced at Mr. Stokes's residence, every 
 Tuesday, — one at 3 o'clock, and the other at 8.30 ; 
 second lesson every Wednesday, and third lesson 
 every Thursday, at the same hours. Pupils can at- 
 tend on three consecutive days, or can allow an 
 interval of a week between the lessons. 
 
 By special arrangement, Mr. Stokes can impart his 
 System in One Hour. He is open to engagements 
 to lecture and teach in all parts of the United 
 Kingdom, and in Paris. 
 
 Public Classes are constantly forming in London, 
 Brighton, and elsewhere ; One Guinea each pupil. 
 
 Private Tuition, Five Guineas, one pupil ; Six 
 Guineas, two pupils, etc. 
 
 Lessons by correspondence : Five Gumeas, one 
 pupil ; Six Guineas, two pupils, etc. For a class of 
 twelve or more pupils taught by correspondence. 
 One Guinea each. 
 
 Very agreeable Private Classes, of twelve or more, 
 are often formed among friends, and held at their 
 own residences ; One Guinea each pupil. 
 
 Mr. Stokes teaches in Ladies' and Gentlemen's 
 Schools, and prepares Students for Examinations 
 with despatch. 
 
 Mr. Stokes, or one of his Assistants, may be con- 
 sulted daily, by appointment, at his residence, 15, 
 Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, London, W. (two 
 minutes walk from the Boyal Polytechnic Institution ; 
 first street on the left towards Oxford Circus). 
 
 u 3
 
 234 
 
 QUOTATIONS FROM REPOETS, CRI- 
 TIQUES OF THE PRESS, ETC. 
 
 Many of the brief extracts given here are taken from very 
 long reports, some of which have been reprinted in full in 
 other of Mr. Stokes's publications, with numerous reports 
 from the leading London and Provincial daily and weekly 
 newspapers, periodicals, &c., which are here omitted; and 
 Mr. Stokes has literally " heaps " of complimentary 
 reports, &c., which he has not thought it necessary to 
 republish. The writers of critiques, &c., will greatly 
 obhge Mr. Stokes by sending him a copy of their notices 
 respecting him. 
 
 i 
 
 *• EoYAL Polytechnic. — One of the very best, however, 
 and most useful of all the entertainments, is Mr. Stokes's 
 Lecture on Memory, which is really an able and scientific 
 discourse, given in such a way as all feel pleased with, 
 and few forget." 
 
 The Times, Tuesday, December 27th, 1864. 
 
 " EoYAL Polytechnic. — Mr. Stokes has something new 
 and surprising for those who take an interest in the 
 subject of Memory." 
 
 The Times, Tuesday, October Srd, 1871. 
 
 " Royal Polytechnic. — In the large theatre the feats 
 of Memory performed by Mr. William Stokes, and by 
 those who have received even slight tuition from him, 
 still continue to be very popular ; and these displays and 
 the Lectures which they illustrate, induce many to master 
 the System by joining the classes at the Institution." 
 
 The Times, Friday, December 27th, 1872.
 
 235 
 
 •' Mb. Stokes on Memory. — On Wednesday evening, 
 Mr. W. Stokes, of the Polytechnic, gave an exposition of 
 his System of Memory in the Clarendon Assembly Rooms, 
 to a large and influential audience, including numerous 
 members of the University, and Professor Rogers in the 
 chair. The applicability of the system was demonstrated 
 by experiments with the boys of St. Mary Magdalen 
 School, to whom it had only been explained the previous 
 day. The experiments were satisfactory, and were much 
 applauded, as were also the more astounding feats of two 
 lads who accompanied the lecturer." 
 Jackson's Oxford Journal, Saturday, Oct. 26fft, 1867. 
 
 Univebsity Intelligence. 
 
 " Oxford, March 16th. 
 •*A Lecture on 'Memory and its Cultivation,' was 
 given this evening, in the lecture-room of Christ Church, 
 by Mr. William Stokes, of the Royal Polytechnic Institu- 
 tion. The chair was taken by the Venerable Archdeacon 
 Gierke." 
 
 The Times, Tuesday, March llth, 1868. 
 
 *' Mr. Stokes on Memory. — On Friday, January 30th, 
 Mr. Stokes, of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, delivered 
 a lecture in the hall at St. Mary Hall, on ' Memory, 
 and its Cultivation.' The Rev. D. P. Chase, M.A., 
 Principal, presided, and briefly introduced the lecturer. 
 In the course of the evening various wonderful illustrations 
 of acquired power of ' Memory ' were given by pupils from 
 Christ Church Cathedral School, and Cowley St. John 
 National School. The undergraduates present appeared 
 well pleased with the lecture, and at the close a class was 
 immediately forn^ed for learning the system by which Mr, 
 Stokes produces such marvellous results." 
 
 Oxford Chronicle, February 6f/i, 1869.
 
 236 
 
 *' On Thnrsday evening, the 25th instant, Mr. Stokes, 
 of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, London, delivered a 
 lecture in the Hall of University College, on * Memory, 
 and its Cultivation.' Illustrations were given by boys 
 from various schools in Oxford, and at each succeeding 
 illustration of the application of Mr. Stokes's system, the 
 undergraduates present showed their satisfaction by en- 
 thusiastic applause. The Dean of the College at the 
 close of the lecture thanked Mr. Stokes, on behalf of all 
 present, for his interesting lecture, and expressed his in- 
 tention of forming one of a class, if any present wished to 
 place themselves under Mr. Stokes's tuition, and the 
 lecturer having thanked the Dean for his kind remarks, 
 and all present for their kind attention, and one or two 
 gentlemen having withdrawn, all the rest remained to an 
 introductory lesson." 
 The Oxfoed Chkonicle, Saturday, Feb. 27th, 1869. 
 
 *' Memory. — The last lecture on Memory this term was 
 given in the Town Hall Committee Rooms, by Mr. Stokes, 
 on Tuesday, the 4th inst. At the termination, a vote of 
 thanks was proposed by W. S. W. Vause, Esq., F.R.S., of 
 Balliol College, and keeper of the coins at the British 
 Museum, seconded by Digby D'Auntre Daunt, Esq., and 
 having been carried unanimously, was presented to the 
 lecturer by Mr. Vause, who expressed, on behalf of all 
 present, the pleasure they had experienced in listening to 
 Mr. Stokes, and their thorough satisfaction with, and 
 appreciation of, the illustrations they had witnessed. 
 Many of those present remained to join the class, which 
 was commenced shortly afterwards." 
 
 Oxford Undergraduates' Journal, December 7th, 
 1871. 
 
 "Memory. — Mr. Wilham Stokes, the well-known author 
 of various works and aids for the development of the 
 Memory, who has for many years been connected with 
 the Polytechnic, London, gave a lecture on Monday 
 evening at Trinity College, in the large lecture-room, 
 
 I
 
 237 
 
 which was crowded. A. E. Humphreys, Esq., M.A., As- 
 sistant-Tutor of Trinity College, in the absence of the 
 Vice-Master, took the chair. A vote of thanks, embody- 
 ing the approval of the lecturer's system, was carried by 
 acclamation, and many members of the University en- 
 rolled themselves as pupils. [Mr. Stokes has devoted the 
 greater part of his life to the perfection of a system for 
 the improvement or aid of the Memory, and has achieved 
 extraordinarily successful results at Oxford, and wherever 
 bis system has been made known. He ought to make it 
 more generally known in Cambridge. — Ed. C. C] " 
 
 The Cambridge Chronicle, Saturday, November 
 23rd, 1872. 
 
 '♦ Stokes on Memory. — On Monday evening, Mr. "Wil- 
 liam Stokes, of the Koyal Polytechnic, London, gave a 
 demonstration of 'Acquired Memory,' at Trinity College, 
 to a numerous audience, in which several colleges were 
 represented. A. E. Humphreys, Esq., M.A., presided. Mr. 
 Stokes explained that his system combined the most 
 healthful and judicious use of the natural memory, and 
 the employment of simple but invaluable artificial aids or 
 mnemonical appliances. Two of his juvenile pupils from 
 London astonished all present with their extraordinary 
 and varied powers of Memory, and the greatest interest 
 was manifested throughout. A vote expressive of confi- 
 dence in Mr. Stokes's system was carried unanimously, 
 and a large class for its study was immediately formed." 
 
 Cambridge Independent Press, Saturday, Novem- 
 ber 23rd, 1872. 
 
 '* Memory. — Trinity College. — An illustrative lecture 
 on ' Memory and its Cultivation ' was given by Mr. 
 Stokes, of the Koyal Polytechnic Institution, on Monday 
 evening. The attendance was large, both at the lecture 
 and at a Memory Class, which resulted from it. A. E. 
 Humphreys, Esq., M.A., presided. "We understand 
 another class is now being formed, the system being im- 
 parted very rapidly." 
 
 Cambridge Express, Saturday, November 23rd, 1872.
 
 238 
 
 The Rev. Newman Hall and Mr, Stokes on Memory. 
 
 ♦' On Thursday evening, the 25th ult., the Rev. Newman 
 Hall gave a very interesting address on ' Memory and its 
 Cultivation,' before the members and friends of the Young 
 Men's Society in connection with Surrey Chapel. He 
 stated, that having been solicited by the members to 
 deliver a Lecture, he thought he could not do better than 
 select that topic which was of vital importance to every- 
 body, and he hoped they might be induced to bestow 
 upon it their future attention. It was simply his inten- 
 tion to give, briefly, a few general ideas upon the subject 
 by way of introduction, as there was a gentleman present 
 who was far better able to do it justice — Mr. Stokes, the 
 well-known Professor of Memory. The Rev. Lecturer then 
 proceeded to define Memory, explained some of its opera- 
 tions, noticed various theories upon the causes of remem- 
 brance and forgetfulness, citing a few amusing instances 
 of the inconvenience arising from a defective Memory, 
 and afterwards showed some of the means which had been 
 devised as remedies. He had no doubt there were persons 
 present who did not thoroughly understand him, as he 
 considered his explanation had been very imperfect, and 
 others might dispute that any system could be of per- 
 manent benefit to the Memory ; but these he should at 
 once refer to Mr. Stokes, who was prepared to discuss the 
 subject with anybody, and he thought it could not be in 
 better hands. Several parties present asked questions 
 and raised objections, to which Mr. Stokes replied in a 
 manner whicli appeared to be perfectly satisfactory. A 
 number of pupils of Mr. Stokes were in the room, some 
 of whom were members of the chapel, and identified with 
 the Young Men's Society. These gentlemen came forward 
 and allowed themselves to be tested by the audience, with 
 startling effect." 
 
 The South London Chronicle, May 4^th, 1861. 
 
 "The Memory. — On Monday evening, Mr. "William 
 Stokes, the well-known proficient in the Science of 
 Mnemonics, delivered a Lecture at the West Street Lecture
 
 239 
 
 Hall, Lewes, on 'Natural and Artificial Memory.' "Wa 
 cannot speak too highly of the interesting manner in 
 which Mr, Stokes elucidates his system ; he handles his 
 subject with a dexterity and ease that show him to be 
 perfect master of his position. He requested his audience 
 to give some words indiscriminately. This was complied 
 with, and in a few minutes the following heterogeneous 
 collection was made : — 
 
 1. Gorilla. 
 
 2. Astronomy. 
 
 3. Nebuchadnezzar. 
 
 4. Mathematics. 
 
 5. Apple-pie. 
 
 6. Bricks. 
 
 7. Beef. 
 
 8. Slavery. 
 
 9. Liberty. 
 10. Honour, 
 
 Mr. Stokes then exhibited his skill by delivering a short, 
 but lucid and pertinent speech, in which each of the 
 words was introduced in a very appropriate manner, Mr. 
 "Wingfield, a pupil of the Lecturer, exhibited a knowledge 
 of the ' History of Lewes ' which might well astonish the 
 oldest inhabitant. Mr. Stokes's was a truly scientific 
 entertainment, and we feel constrained to notice his 
 versatile genius. He gave many illustrations of the 
 tenacity of his Memory on subjects the most incongruous, 
 gave recitations with great elocutionary taste, and repeated 
 with equal facility some pieces of an outrageously uncon- 
 nected character; and as an epigrammatist, he seemed at 
 home. 
 
 " Dr. Macrae and Mr. M. A. Lower put some severe tests 
 to * the boys,' and the results were perfectly satisfactory." 
 
 East Sussex News, Friday, May 1st, 1863. 
 
 '• Every day brings fresh testimony in favour of Mr, 
 Stokes's system — and not testimony alone, but proofs." — 
 Western Times, September 27th, 1864. 
 
 " Mr. Stokes on Memory, — On Tuesday evening. May 
 8th, Mr. Stokes, of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, &c., 
 gave an entertainment illustrative of acquired Memory,
 
 240 
 
 before the Slite of Twickenham, in the Lecture Hall. The 
 chair was occupied by the Rev. Edwyn Arkwright, M.A., 
 Curate of Holy Trinity Church, Twickenham. In intro- 
 ducing the Lecturer, the Rev. Chairman said it afforded him 
 great pleasure to preside at a demonstration of a gentle- 
 man whose name was so well known and so highly 
 esteemed in connection with one of the most useful efforts 
 of the age, — the special education of the Memory. Mr. 
 Stokes's fame would no doubt be cherished by posterity ; 
 and probably most of the company present felt no small 
 degree of curiosity respecting Mr. Stokes's System of 
 Memory, and were desirous of seeing some of its results. 
 The disadvantages attendant upon a bad Memory were 
 numerous and great, and a method which proved an 
 antidote for natural forgetfulness commended itself to 
 general favour. Mr. Stokes would at once proceed to show 
 the advantages of his plan." 
 
 West Middlesex Heeald, Saturday, May 19th, 1866. 
 
 " Royal Polytechnic Institution. — Mr. Stokes's won- 
 derful Lecture on Memory is at once pleasing and instruc- 
 tive." 
 
 The Atlas, Saturday, June 9th, 1866. 
 
 •* Royal Polytechnic Institution. — Mr. Stokes's 
 admirable Lecture is at once interesting and instructive. 
 His works on Memory have been already noticed in our 
 columns ; and among the most striking illustrations given 
 by him is the remarkable facility he manifests in making 
 impromptu speeches upon Memory, and the ease with 
 which he can enable others to make speeches also. This 
 Lecture forms a really leading feature of the Institution." 
 
 Builder's WEBEiiY Reporteb, Monday, June ISth 
 1866. 
 
 *' For getting up any kind of knowledge at short notice, 
 it is indeed incomparable." 
 
 Chambers's Journal, No. 144, Saturday, September 
 29th, 1866. Referring to " Stokes's System of Memory."
 
 241 
 
 " Lecture on Mnemonics.— Last night, Mr. William 
 Stokes, from the Koyal Polytechnic Institution, London, 
 delivered a Lecture on Mnemonics, or the Science of 
 Memory, in the Upper Queen Street Hall. The room was 
 crowded to excess, and many persons had to be refused 
 admittance. The feats of memory performed were truly 
 wonderful." 
 
 The Scotsman, Edinburgh, Friday, January 11th, 
 1867. 
 
 " Lecture on Memory.— Last night, Mr. William 
 Stokes, of the Koyal Polytechnic Institution, London, and 
 who has lately been conducting classes on the Science of 
 Mnemonics, at the Established Church Normal Training 
 College, and other Institutions in Glasgow, delivered an 
 introductory Lecture on that topic in the Upper Queen 
 Street Hall, Edinburgh, to a fuU and highly intelligent 
 audience, among whom we observed a number of ladies 
 and gentlemen connected with various educational estab- 
 lishments in the city. At the conclusion, the Rev. Dr. 
 Nisbet complimented Mr. Stokes, expressing himself 
 highly gratified and delighted with what he had seen and 
 heard ; and was followed by the Eev. Mr. Cochrane, of the 
 Pleasance Free Church." 
 
 The Edinburgh Evening Courant, Friday, Janu- 
 ary Uth, 1867. 
 
 " Mr. Stokes is certainly at the head of all MnemonicaJ, 
 Professors." 
 
 Quarterly Journal of Education, May, 1867. 
 
 •* From the Rev. Dr. Taylor's Opening Address, when 
 presiding at a Lecture on Memory, delivered by Mr. 
 Stokes in the Schoolroom of St. Silas's Church, Liver- 
 
 . pool, on Tuesday Evening, 13th July, 1869. 
 
 " A few words will put you in possession of the facts of 
 
 the case regarding the lecture to be delivered to you this 
 
 X
 
 242 
 
 evening. Mr. Stokes did me the honor to call upon me 
 last week, to speak to me on the subject of a cause in 
 which he has himself long been interested, and in -which 
 he has worked with success — the improvement of the 
 Memory. For many years past, and indeed ever since I 
 felt the value of knowledge, I have myself been interested 
 in the subject of Memory. I think I have a very profound 
 estimation of the value of knowledge, and I have been 
 trying during my life to gather together some little 
 materials in that way. 
 
 ♦•We all know what a valuable thing Memory is ; without 
 it we could have no knowledge; we have, therefore, reason 
 to thank God that we have such a faculty as Memory. 
 Few persons have a good Memory ; we are therefore, all 
 interested in having our Memories of the most retentive 
 character possible. I felt taken by the observations Mr. 
 Stokes made on the subject, and by the way in which he 
 proved the value of a good Memory, for he reproduced 
 with more accuracy than I could have done myself, the 
 sermon I had preached the previous Sunday morning. I 
 say with more accuracy than I could have done, and for 
 the reason that though I carefully prepare the subject- 
 matter of my sermons, I never prepare the words, except 
 when I write out what I have to read, but in other cases I 
 never prepare the clothing. "With an accuracy which 
 astonished me, not only the fall outlines and all the 
 subsidiary details, but even the illustrations which for the 
 moment had passed from my mind, were most completely 
 given. I said, ' Enough ! enough ! I really cannot hear 
 ftuy more,' — the report was so complete. As Mr. Stokes 
 was delivering lectures in Liverpool, he suggested that 
 he might have the opportunity of delivering one in this 
 Schoolroom, and believing that by accspting his proposal 
 I should confer a great boon on those who attend this 
 Church, it was arranged that a preliminary lecture should 
 b« delivered here."
 
 243 
 
 *• Stokes on Memory. — Mr, Stokes has given hia 
 classes in Brighton, and they have been attended with 
 considerable success. Recently, at one of his introduc- 
 tory entertainments, he received a visit from Lieut. -Col. 
 Macdonald, who called out the Teloogoo numerals to 
 Mr. Stokes's illustrating boys ; they learned them accu- 
 rately without seeing them, and used the names with 
 the greatest possible ease. The names are curious, they 
 are as follows : — 1, wukaty ; 2, rendoo ; 3, moodoo ; 4, 
 nalgoo ; 5, aidoo ; 6, aroo ; 7, yadoo ; 8, yenmeedy; 
 9, tomeedee ; 10, pudee." 
 
 The Brighton Gazette, Thursday, November ^th, 
 1869. 
 
 •' Mr. Stokes on Memory. — A large audience was 
 entertained in the Upper Room, Town Hall, on Wednes- 
 day evening last, by Mr. Stokes, who spoke for about two 
 hours without a note to aid him, — a fact which alone 
 would attest the value and utility of his system to public 
 speakers generally. The illustrations of the practical 
 application of his method to the remembering of dates, 
 numbers, etc., were of a similar character to those before 
 given; but there was a striking novelty introduced for the 
 first time, in the shape of a composition by Mr. Stokes, 
 called a ' Mnemonical Patter-song,' the singing of which 
 from memory, by the ' Kilted Wee Laddie ' and another boy, 
 created a perfect /wrore, copies of the words being eagerly 
 bought. The chief difficulty lies in the fact that each 
 verse has a chorus — differing from that of the other verses 
 — which consists of a strange medley of adjectival words, 
 repeated as rapidly as possible. Our townsman, Mr. 
 Stokes, has certainly accomplished so much, that Bright- 
 onians may well be proud of him. To express ourselves 
 in the Stokesian style, Greenock can boast of its Watt, 
 with his steam-engine ; Southampton, of Dr. Watts, ' On 
 the Mind ; ' and Brighton can boast of — what ? Of one 
 who has produced an engine — a mighty engine for the 
 mind ! In all seriousness, we believe Mr. Stokes has 
 rendered the world good service, and we have no doubt 
 
 X 2
 
 244 
 
 his achievements will be highly appreciated by coming 
 generations. He is author, publisher, lecturer, and 
 teacher, and his educational productions have proved of 
 far too great utility to be allowed to exert but an ephemeral 
 influence. We believe that the book, ' Stokes on Memory,' 
 which we commended to the notice of our readers, when 
 it was far less known than at the present time, has had a 
 Bale of nearly 30,000 copies, and it has been very justly 
 said that several of the poetical fragments which enliven 
 its pages would have done credit to a Barham of ' In- 
 goldsby Legends' fame, or the world-renowned Thomas 
 Hood. Mr. Stokes has resumed his lectures at the Royal 
 Polytechnic and his lessons at his London residence, but 
 he will re-visit this town from time to time as occasion 
 may require." 
 Brighton Examiner, Tuesday, November dOth, 1869. 
 
 '* Llandudno.— Those who are desirous of combining 
 intellectual improvement with recreation will find Mr. 
 Stokes's system of aiding and developing the Memory well 
 worthy of attention." 
 Llandudno Register, Wednesday^ June 15th, 1870. 
 
 •'Memory. — On Friday last, Professor Stokes, of 
 London, delivered his lecture illustrative of acquired 
 Memory in the Town-hall, the chair being occupied by 
 Mr. Frederick Broughton. Those present had a treat of 
 no mean kind," 
 Brecon County Times, Saturday, July IQth, 1870. 
 
 " Mnemonics. — On Thursday last the final meeting of 
 Mr. Stokes's Memory Class was held at the Town Hall. 
 At its close Mr, H. Bryant proposed a cordial vote of 
 thanks to Mr, Stokes for his kindness and attention in 
 teaching the System, and expressed a wish that it would 
 not be long before Mr. Stokes would again visit Brecon. 
 The vote of thanks was seconded by another pupil, and 
 carried unanimously." 
 
 Brecon County Times, July 2Brd, 1870.
 
 245 
 
 "Mr. William Stokes, of the Eoyal Polytechnic Insti- 
 tution, had the honour of giving brief illustrations of the 
 value of his system of memory before the Eight Hon. the 
 Lord Mayor on Thursday morning," 
 
 The City Press, October 22nd, 1870. 
 
 "Mr. Stokes, of the Polytechnic, London, has created 
 some excitement at Wisbech by his lectures and lessons 
 on Memory. At a recent demonstration at the Public 
 Hall, between twenty and thirty ladies and gentlemen, 
 who had just completed a course of three lessons, ap- 
 peared on the platform and * astonished the natives' with 
 the power of memory they had gained in less than a 
 fortnight. Mr. Alderman Dawbarn presided, and ex- 
 pressed his satisfaction with the system, and his belief 
 that Mr. Stokes's visit would do much good in the town. 
 The Rev. W. E. Winks also gave a very practical testi- 
 mony, having used the system for extemporaneous 
 preaching. Several members of the class had learned 
 long portions of Scripture verbatim by Mr. Stokes's aid." 
 
 The Cbbisiian World, Friday, July 1th, 1871. 
 
 •* Mr. Stokes on Memory. — On Thursday evening last, 
 Mr. Stokes, of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, London, 
 lectured on the above subject at the Victoria Assembly 
 Rooms, Dartford. The lucid and fluent address was 
 listened to with most attentive interest, and the illus- 
 trations excited unbounded amazement and admira- 
 tion." 
 
 Dartford Chronicle, Saturday, September, SOth, 
 1871. 
 
 "Memory. — Mr. Stokes is an excellent lecturer. We 
 recommend all who feel interested in the important sub- 
 ject of Memory to avail themselves of the opportunity of 
 hearing it most cleverly explained by Mr. Stokes." 
 
 Norfolk Herald, Wednesday , November 2%th, 1871. 
 
 X 3
 
 246 
 
 •' Mr. Stokes completed his ninth year as Lecturer on 
 
 Memory at the Royal Polytechnic yesterday, and gave a 
 special Lecture in commemoration of the event." 
 
 The MoBNiNQ Advebtisbb, Tuesday^ February 13f/i, 
 1872. 
 
 ** Mb. Stokes on Memory. — On Tuesday night, Mr. 
 Stokes, of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, gave an 
 illustrated entertainment on ' Memory,' at the Young 
 Men's Christian Association Rooms, Leeds. The Mayor 
 occupied the chair. Numerous feats of Memory were per- 
 formed to the evident satisfaction of the audience." 
 
 The Leeds Mercuky, Thursday, A'pril 11th, 1872. 
 
 •* Mb. Stokes on Memory. — Yesterday evening, Mr. 
 Stokes, Teacher of Memory at the Eoyal Polytechnic, Lon- 
 don, delivered a Lecture illustrative of Acquired Memory, 
 in the Lecture Hall of the Leeds Church Institute. The 
 Rev. Gr. P. Grantham occupied the chair. In a series of 
 surprising illustrations Mr. Stokes demonstrated the ap- 
 plicability of his System, not only for the acquisition of 
 almost every branch of scientific research, but also in the 
 practical affairs of every-day life. He was accompanied 
 by two of his ' wonderful boys ' whose feats of memory 
 were truly astonishing, and who were greeted, along with 
 many of the remarks of the Lecturer, with applause. 
 
 " At the close of the Lecture, a vote expressive of satis- 
 faction was proposed by Mr. H. H. Franck, who also ex- 
 pressed a hope that Mr. Stokes's System would receive the 
 careful consideration of the friends of education. He 
 (Mr. Franck) came to the Lecture a sceptic, but he should 
 leave a convert. The vote, on being put to the meeting, 
 was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chair- 
 man closed the proceedings." 
 
 Leeds Eveninq Exi'RJiSS, Thursday, May dth, 1872.
 
 247 
 
 "Professor Stokes on Memory. — We (Christian 
 Age) recently went to hear Mr. Stokes at the Polytechnic, 
 and were astonished at the wonderful feats of Memory 
 on the part of his pupils. We strongly recommend his 
 System to those whose callings make large drafts on the 
 Memory." 
 
 The Christian Age, Wednesday, July 17 th, 1872. 
 
 " A lecture on Memory is suggestive of something 
 ' flat, stale, and unprofitable ; ' but Mr. Stokes invests his 
 subject with freshness, interest, and instruction. We are 
 pleased to find that by special request he is to give two 
 more demonstrations, in St. George's Hall, Ramsgate, 
 on Tuesday next." 
 The Kent Coast Times, Thursday, October Vlth, 1872. 
 
 " Exhibition Palace, Dublin. — Mr. W. Stokes, of the 
 Royal Polytechnic Institution, London, who has just com- 
 pleted a successful course of Lectures on Memory at the 
 Exhibition, has received a vote of thanks from the numer- 
 ous ladies and gentlemen who have attended his Lectures. 
 In accordance with a resolution proposed by E. Stapleton, 
 Esq., seconded by the Rev. Titus Bentley, and passed 
 unanimously, a copy of the testimonial to Mr. Stokes 
 has been forwarded to Mr. Lee, the manager, thanking 
 him for introducing Mr. Stokes to the Dublin public." 
 
 The Irish Times, Friday, November I5th, 1872. 
 
 "The Youths' Club, Paradise Street, Cambridge. 
 — Mr. W. Stokes, the well-known Teacher of Memory at 
 the Polytechnic, gave the third Lecture-Entertainment at 
 this Club, last Tuesday, and a rare treat it was for the 
 members and the large general audience. It is impossible 
 to describe fully the interesting character of the entertain- 
 ment, or the astounding feats of Memory by Mr. Stokes's 
 'Wonderful Boys.' The Rev. E. Conybeare, Vicar of 
 Barrington, presided." 
 The Cambridge Express, Saturday, November 2Srd, 1872,
 
 248 
 
 "Stokes on Memoby. — Mr. Stokes haa just completed 
 a course of Memory Lessons at St. Augustine's Monastery, 
 Ramsgate, and unanimous satisfaction has been expressed 
 with his System," 
 
 Kent Coast Times, Thursday, November 28th, 1872. 
 
 "Stokes on Memory. — The second of the series of 
 Lectm-es in connection with the Young Men's Christian 
 Association, was delivered in the Athenaeum, on Tuesday 
 evening, by Mr. W. Stokes, of the Royal Polytechnic 
 Institution, Loudon, who illustrated his System of im- 
 proving the Memory. The Mayor (Councillor McKenzie) 
 presided, and there was a numerous attendance." 
 
 The Sunderland Times, Friday, December 6th, 1872. 
 
 *• Mr. Stokes, the Professor of Memory, who has now 
 been associated with the Polytechnic for the last ten years, 
 gave a special Lecture on Wednesday in commemoration of 
 that event." 
 
 The Weekly Despatch, February IQth, 1873. 
 
 '* Mb. Stokes in Leeds. — Last night Mr. "William 
 Stokes, the well-known teacher of Mnemonics, gave a 
 Lecture in the Philosophical Hall, with illustrations by two 
 very young boys. Designating one boy ' Oxford,' and the 
 other * Cambridge,' and decking them with appropriate 
 ribbons, Mr. Stokes put them through a mnemonical 
 race, the * Oxford ' boy getting through his task a moment 
 or two before * Cambridge,' amid much laughter. In the 
 afternoon of yesterday, Mr. Stokes and bis pupils gave a 
 demonstration at the Presbyterian Bazaar, opened by Sir 
 Andrew Fairbairn, the Chairman of the Leeds School 
 Board. Sir Andrew expressed his surprise to one or two 
 gentlemen with the results of the Sjpstem which he had 
 witnessed." 
 
 Leeds Evening Express, Thursday, April Srd, 1873.
 
 249 
 
 "Memory. — Mr. Stokeg,the popular Lectnrer on Memory 
 gave a Lecture at the Hackney Collegiate School, Clapton, 
 on Tuesday evening, to the boys of the school and nu- 
 merous ladies and gentlemen of the district. Pictures, 
 large diagrams, and globes with a face upon them, es- 
 pecially designed for aiding the Memory, were exhibited 
 and explained by Mr. Stokes in a manner which secured 
 the interest of all ; and the Memory performances of his 
 pupils, some of whom belonged to the school, and had 
 only been initiated the day before, were truly astonishing. 
 A vote of thanks to Mr. Stokes, and to the Principal, the 
 Rev. J. C. Jackson, M.A., who presided, was carried vevj 
 heartily." 
 
 Hacknky Expcess, May 10th, 1873. 
 
 ** Stokes on Memory. — One of the largest audiences 
 that ever assembled in Colchester to listen to a lecture, 
 was to be found at the Public Hall, on Thursday evening, 
 when Mr. Stokes, of the Polytechnic, London, explained 
 and illustrated some of his methods of aiding and strength- 
 ening the Memory. The Eev. C. L. Acland, M.A., Prin- 
 cipal of the Royal Grammar School, presided, and stated 
 that one of his clerical friends had gained the power of 
 preaching without notes, through availing himself of Mr. 
 Stokes's services. Mr. Stokes said, although an endeavour 
 was often made to prove that there was no advantage in 
 using aids for Memory, he should ask his hearers to think 
 of a few facts, and to consider certain mental conditions, 
 and then to judge of the value of having a good memory, 
 — which in many instances could only be obtained by cul- 
 tivation, as it is not in every case a • gift.' He then pro- 
 ceeded to illustrate how largely Memory was interwoven 
 with all ordinary thought, pointed out some of its most 
 frequent defects, and asserted that for each there was a 
 remedy — and that a simple one — namely, the association 
 of ideas. Various extraordinary proofs of concentration of 
 thought, quickness of perception, and power of Memory, 
 were given by two of Mr. Stokes's Polytechnic Memory-
 
 250 
 
 boys ; and a boy from the Blue Coat School, Colchestck, 
 who had been recently drilled in the system, acquitted 
 himself most creditably. Large pictures, showing some of 
 the means used by Mr. Stokes for impressing the Memory, 
 and a globe for teaching geography quickly, were exhibited 
 and explained, everybody present taking part in the repe- 
 titions. Sometimes the audience were listening to the 
 lecturer with breathless attention, and at others were con- 
 vulsed with laughter ; and in spite of the intense heat of 
 the room, through its defective ventilation, he succeeded 
 in delighting his hearers for nearly two hours. At the 
 close a large Memory Class was formed, the reverend 
 Chairman and several clergymen having enrolled them- 
 selves as members. We understand Mr. Stokes is to lec- 
 ture again, by special request, at the Public Hall on Wed- 
 nesday next, by which time arrangements are to be made 
 for better ventilation." 
 
 Colchester Mercury, Saturday, June 21sf, 1873. 
 
 IMPEDIMENT OF SPEECH. 
 
 From Mr. W. J. Fellgett, Builder and Contractor, 
 Eagle Iron Works, Ipsiuich. 
 
 " June 19th, 1882. 
 " Dear Sib, — It is with the greatest pleasure I write 
 to thank you for the benefit I have received from your 
 Memory aiding lessons, for the treatment of my very 
 tiresome impediment of speech. 
 
 " I have no trouble whatever now in speaking to any- 
 body, and I have successfully given many little addresses. 
 " You are quite welcome to print this, as I should be 
 glad to be the means of inducing others similarly affected 
 to secure the advantage of your agreeable skill. 
 " Yours trulv, 
 «' W. J. FELLGETT." 
 «« To Mr. Wiliam Stokes."
 
 251 
 
 TESTIMONIALS. 
 
 From the Rt. Hon, Sir Stafford H. Northcote, 
 Bart., M. P., etc. 
 "Your manner of teaching is very pleasant, and I shall 
 certainly recommend any of my friends who have the op- 
 portunity, to put themselves under your tuition." 
 
 " Pynes, Exeter, 
 ♦♦ October 2oth, 1864." 
 
 •'Young Men's Christian Association, 
 
 " 165, Aldersgate Street, London, E.G. 
 
 "April 30th, 1870. 
 " My dear Mr. Stokes, — I am happy to be able to 
 congratulate you on your successful visits to us for 
 Memory Lectures and Lessons this winter. We have had 
 three Lectures, followed in each case by Classes, and the 
 attendance and interest have been greater than in any 
 former year. We are always happy to co-operate with 
 you ; and I trust next season we may be able to resume 
 our pleasant intercourse. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 " W. E. SHIPTON, Secretary." 
 
 " The Beaches, Hunter's Lane, 
 " Handsworth, 
 
 " Birmingham. 
 " Thursday, May 26th, 1870. 
 " Dear Sir, — I have much pleasure in giving you a 
 fact which I tliink may please yourself and many others 
 interested in your System, as it gives an illustration of its 
 practical value. Last Tuesday night, when I left your class, 
 I thought I would carry out your idea of using the plan for 
 ordinary matters, so when I jumped into a Hansom cab
 
 252 
 
 to take me home, I fixed its number (185) in my memory, 
 by means of your System, The next day I discovered 
 that, in the dark, I had given the cabman a sovereign 
 instead of a shilling. Through remembering the number 
 of the cab, I was enabled to trace out the cabman, and 
 this morning I have recovered my sovereign. 
 •' I am, dear sir, 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 " EDMUND JOHN SHAW. 
 ••William Stokes, Esq." 
 
 From the Rev. W. Hay M. H. Aitken, M.A., Curate of 
 
 St. Jude's, Mildmay Park, London, N. 
 
 •' North Lodge, 
 
 " Mildmay Park, N. 
 
 "August Slst, 1870. 
 *' My DEA.B SiE, — I have much pleasure in adding my 
 testimony to the value of your System. I became ac- 
 quainted with it about six years ago, shortly before leaving 
 Oxford, and much regret that I had not the advantage of 
 its assistance throughout my whole University course. 
 
 I found it particularly serviceable in historical studies, 
 ond in enabling the Memory to retain the results of 
 analysis. I know from experience that the System may 
 be very useful to public speakers. 
 •♦ I am, my dear sir, 
 
 " Yours faithfully, 
 " W. HAY M. H. AITEEN, M.A.** 
 ••William Stokes, Esq." 
 
 ** 12, St. George's Place, 
 
 " Hyde Park Corner, W., 
 
 ♦' 20th October, 1870. 
 
 •* I have taken great interest in the subject of Mnemonics 
 
 toese last five years or more, and I take this opportunity 
 
 •f ofi'ering my testimony in favour of the excellence of 
 
 Freiftiitor Stokes's System. What strikes me most is its 
 
 i
 
 253 
 
 «implicity, its beanty combined with utility, and last but 
 not the least, its universahty of application. The training 
 itself which the initiated receive at the hands of Mr. 
 Stokes, not only invigorates the faculty of Memory, but 
 simultaneously awakens and invigorates the cognate facul- 
 ties of thought-linking, localisation, and association. I 
 cannot but promise Mr. Stokes that, knowing so well 
 from personal experience the advantages that can accrue 
 to one who is in possession of his Key, I will not fail to 
 recommend his System to the notice of my friends and 
 acquaintances in India. 
 
 " JAMSEDJI NAYAROJI UNWALA, M.A., 
 " Tutor to His Highness the Maharaja of Kolapore." 
 
 From the Rev. Robert Mitchell, Minister of the Iron 
 Congregational Church, Queen's Park, Manchester. 
 '* Manchester, 
 
 "November 1st, 1870. 
 " Mr. Stokes's method of overcoming the difficulties of 
 a bad memory is the most philosophical, pleasant, and 
 satisfactory thing imaginable. Greatly do I regret that I 
 did not know it sooner. Most heartily do I recommend 
 it to any one who feels the necessity of improving the 
 memory. 
 
 *'R0BT. MITCHELL." 
 
 From Mr. Adolphus Collenette, Lecturer on Chemistry 
 at Queen Elizabeth College^ Guernsey. 
 " Walmer House, 
 , " Victoria Road, Gaemsey. 
 
 " November 11th, 1870. 
 " I feel considerable pleasure in having an opportunity 
 of bearing testimony to the value and superiority of Mr. 
 Stokes's Mnemonic System. For many years I struggled 
 with what I used to consider a very bad memory, my 
 study was mental labour indeed, and its results were any- 
 thing but Batisfactory. A few months ago I tried two 
 
 T
 
 254 
 
 mnemonic systems, to the appUcation of which I devote.1 
 much time and thought, and I became thoroughly con- 
 vinced that a mnemonical system was necessary for me, 
 although I could not succeed as I wished with those I 
 was employing. 
 
 " On Mr. Stokes's visit to the Island, I at once took his 
 lessons, and saw distinctly that although he worked on 
 well-known principles, he had much simplified and ex- 
 tended their application, and by coiribining their action 
 had secm-ed a vast amount of ease and power. 
 
 ' • Many things can be learned instantly by his system, 
 and cannot easily be forgotten. 
 
 "After but one week's experience in its application, I 
 waa able to get through three weeks'' ordinary intellectual 
 work in two days^ and subsequent applications have 
 become more and more easy. I find this is also the 
 experience of other members of the class, some of whom 
 like myself, seem to have entered into a new era of their 
 existence^ All aeem to wonder at the simplicity of the 
 plan, and they were so pleased that a vote of satisfaction, 
 and the thanks of the class were heartily given to Mr. 
 Stakes at the close of his lessons, accompanied with a 
 hope that we should see him again amongst us. 
 
 " I feel that I cannot speak too highly of his system, 
 and will do all in my power to induce others to learn it, 
 believing fully that I shall thus be doing them an incalcula- 
 ble gpod. 
 
 " ADOLPHUS COLLENETTE." 
 
 ** La Plaiderie, 
 
 " Guernsey. 
 
 " November 30th, 1870. 
 •♦Having practically tested Mr. Stokes's Sjstem of 
 Memoiy, I bear grateful testimony to its simplicity and 
 worth. There is scarcely any limit to its application, and 
 its skilfal use enables anybody to eclipse himself/ That 
 which waa impossible for him to accomplish, becomes not 
 merely possible but easy, and he is startled at his sudden
 
 255 
 
 " After thirty years experience as a public speaker, I 
 have found Mr. Stokes's suggestions give me that assist- 
 ance which I have all along desired to possess. 
 
 " My -wife and several of our children and friends have 
 taken lessons of Mr. Stokes, and have tested his system in 
 various ways, and it has been surprising to notice the 
 extinction of the different defects of Memory peculiar to 
 each. 
 
 " So pleased were we, that soon after taking the lessons, 
 I wrote to a son of mine, who is in London, preparing 
 for his Arts Examination, telling him to hasten to Mr. 
 Stokes, and he has been delighted with the results. 
 
 " Mr. Stokes's elementary aids to Memory have been 
 bought for my children's children, and for many juvenile 
 friends, and they have worked wonders. 
 
 " I gave attention to Mnemonics more than twenty 
 years ago, but relinquished the study in disgust, and I 
 must confess I was at a loss to imagine how Mr. Stokes 
 could have produced clearness and solidity from such a 
 hazy quagmire as that into which I had sunk knee-deep. 
 His System, however, has a tendency to benefit, not 
 simply the Memory, but the health and spirits of those 
 who learn it, as it removes nervousness and depression, 
 and prevents undue stress upon the brain. 
 
 "B. Collenette, M.D. 
 "L.R.C.P., Edin., M.R.C.S., Engl., 
 "L.S.A.,— M.M.S., Paris, &c., &c." 
 
 From Charles J. Plumptre, Esq., Lecturer on Public 
 Speaking and Reading, Evening Classes Department, 
 King's College, London. 
 
 " 36, Hamilton Terrace, 
 
 " St. John's Wood, N.W. 
 *' My dear Sir, — I feel that I am only very imperfectly 
 discharging a debt of gratitude to you for the great benefit 
 I have derived from your system of Mnemonics, in giving 
 you this testimonial; but such as it is, you are most wel- 
 come to make any use of it which you may think proper 
 
 T 2
 
 256 
 
 or expedient. The chief beauty of your system seems U 
 me (if I may be allowed to say so) to consist mainly in 
 the sound, philosophical application of psychological laws 
 of the highest importance in their development and re- 
 lation to each other, for the cultivation of Memory ; and 
 this system, by your admirable mode of instruction and 
 illustration, is explained so clearly and simply as to be 
 most easily acquired and understood by persons of all 
 ranks and all ages that possess any intelligence. Again 
 thanking you most cordially, 
 
 " I am, my dear sir, 
 
 *' Yours very faithfully, 
 
 " CHAS. J. PLUMPTRE. 
 •• Feb. 6th, 1871. 
 
 ' William Stokes, Esq. 
 
 " 42, Cannon Street, 
 
 •'London, E.G. 
 
 " 23rd February, 1871. 
 Deab Sib, — I have much pleasure in stating that I 
 apply your system of Mnemonics most successfully to 
 business matters. By its aid I can with ease remember 
 Ledger folios, customers' balances, the items of which a 
 Balance Sheet or Profit and Loss account are made up ; 
 cast any number of columns of figures and remember the 
 totals without putting them on paper ; and I can almost 
 dispense with a diary, by hanging my notes on your 
 Mnemonical Pegs, where I can always mentally review 
 them, and take them down when required. There is 
 nothing, in fact, to which I have applied your system 
 without obtaining most satisfactory results ; and I believe 
 its application to be without limit. 
 " I am, dear sir, 
 
 *' Yours faithfully, 
 
 " WILLIAM DUFF. 
 *♦ William Stokes, Esq."
 
 257 
 
 " East Dean, Salisbury, 
 
 " April 18th, 1871. 
 •' I have taken a conrse of Correspondence Memorj 
 LessonB of Mr. Stokes, much to my advantage. 
 
 " His guidance in respect to Extemporaneous Preaching 
 and kindred subjects I have found especially valuable ; 
 and having been, from a child, very slow in getting up any- 
 thing by heart, his instructions have much lessened my 
 difficulty. I think it, moreover, an important result of 
 his teaching that the ideas presented to the mind are fixed 
 in a logical sequence, so as to be ready for use when 
 wanted. 
 
 " I shall always feel great pleasure in bearing my 
 humble testimony to the value of his method of teaching. 
 •• EDWARD S. WILLIAMS, M.A. (Oxon.), 
 
 " Curate in sole charge of East Dean. 
 (in the Diocese of Winton)." 
 
 135, King Henry's Eoad, 
 
 " St. John's Wood, 
 
 «' London, N.W. 
 
 " April 18th, 1871. 
 '• Several years ago I took a course of Memory Lessons 
 of Mr. Stokes, and surprised some of my friends with the 
 results. I advocated his System, believing it to be thor- 
 oughly good. Mr. Stokes has just completed another 
 course of Lessons, given here to my family and myself. 
 I find he has greatly developed his plan, and I am heartily 
 pleased in having had an opportunity of benefitting by his 
 recent improvements. We have all gained advantage, and 
 I can scarcely imagine anybody who would not have 
 done so. 
 
 " I strongly advise not only Ministers and Students, 
 but all sensible people, who wish to have a good Memory, 
 to take Lessons of Sir. Stokes. 
 
 "WM. LANDELS, D.D., 
 *' Minister of Regent's Park Chapel." 
 ' T 3
 
 258 
 
 *• The Gas Light and Coke Company, 
 " Horseferry Road Station, 
 
 '• Westminster S.W. 
 " April 24th, 1871. 
 " Dear Sir, — I am glad to acknowledge the great 
 benefit I have received from your System of Memory. 
 
 " By its help I have been able to bring home the various 
 heads, divisions, and sub-divisions of Sermons, and Lec- 
 tures, in a manner which it was impossible for me to do 
 before taking your Lessons. Your System is also a great 
 assistance to me in recollecting amounts of money, and 
 numbers, and I can fully recommend it toothers who, Hke 
 myself, have rather a bad natural Memory. 
 "I remain, dear sir, 
 ♦♦ Yours faithfully, 
 
 "B. THATCHER. CoUector." 
 
 ♦' St. Mary Hall, Oxford, 
 
 "May 4th, 1871. 
 •• Dear Mr. Stokes, — We can conscientiously say that 
 we have both derived much benefit from your System, 
 having applied it to work for examinations. We found 
 that with quite a superficial knowledge of it we were able to 
 learn long lists of irregular words, and historical facts and 
 dates. 
 
 • We are, 
 
 •* Dear Mr. Stokes, 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 ♦•JAMES HANNINGTON, 
 "E. C. DAWSON." 
 
 From TowNSEND Powell, Esq., B.A., of Exeter College, 
 Oxford. 
 •♦ Aldermoor, 
 
 " Southampton, 
 
 " July 3, 1871. 
 " Deab Sib, — I have much pleasure in recommending
 
 259 
 
 your system to all Oxford Undergraduates, having found 
 it of much use myself when passing several of my exami- 
 nations. " I remain, Dear Sir, 
 
 " Yours very faithfully, 
 *♦ W. Stokes, Esq." " Townbend Powell." 
 
 " The Grammar School, Dartford, 
 
 *• December 2nd, 1871. 
 " Dear Mr. Stokes, — I have great pleasure in expressing 
 the high opinion which I have formed of your System of 
 Mnemonics. It is of great value to the student, as afford- 
 ing an easy means of acquiring and retaining lists of 
 dates, names, and technicalities ; it furnishes the public 
 speaker and extemporary preacheriwith a simple mental 
 substitute for notes; and it is widely available in the 
 common concerns of life. I am satisfied that no intelhgent 
 person could give the System a fair trial without being 
 strongly impressed with its merits. I take every opportu- 
 nity of recommending " all whom it may concern" to avail 
 themselves of your instruction. 
 
 *' Heartily wishing you all success in the dissemination 
 of your Mnemonical principles. 
 ** I remain, 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 "R. LANGBBIDGE, M.A., 
 
 '^Head Master." 
 
 •* Dear Sir, — I can confidently recommend your Sys- 
 tem of Memory. I find it invaluable for the classification 
 of ideas in Lectures, Instructions, Catechising, etc. etc., 
 and for remembering numbers with facility. 
 
 ♦* I may add that my Memory is a most miretentive 
 one, natm-ally. 
 
 " lam, yours very truly, 
 "EDWARD D. HARRISON, M.A., 
 
 ' ' Priest and Assistant Curate at 
 •• To Mr. Stokes, •' Clewer, Berks. 
 
 ** Professor of Memory, ♦' April 3rd, 1872." 
 
 " London."
 
 260 
 
 «« Flint Honse, Lowestoft, 
 
 "February 15th, 1872. 
 "Dear Sir, — It is with very great pleasure that I can 
 bear testimony to the value of your System of Mnemonics. 
 I took lessons of you some years ago, and I have tested 
 your System on English History, Church History, and 
 Scripture History, and the results have been most satisfac- 
 tory. By its means I am able to go through the events 
 of the Life of Our Lord at any time, from the Annuncia- 
 tion to the Ascension, in Chronological order. I think 
 there are very few subjects of education to which your 
 System might not be applied with peculiar advantage, 
 and I should strongly advise its adoption in all our 
 Schools. 
 
 •• ' Stokes on Memory,' and the ' Divine Origin of 
 Mnemonics ' ought to be read by all who are engaged in 
 teaching. 
 
 •i Yours faithfully, 
 
 "E. J. BARNES, 
 
 *' Vicar of Christ Church.'' 
 " William Stokes, Esq." 
 
 "London, August 1st, 1872. 
 " No one who learns your System can be disappointed 
 in it, provided his expectations are anything like reason- 
 able, and he is willing to work to master it. I thank you 
 heartily for the benefit I have derived." 
 
 "J. DAWSON KILBURN, 
 " Student, 
 " The Western College, 
 " W. Stokes, Esq." " Plymouth:' 
 
 "Young Men's Christian Association, 
 " 13, South Parade, Leeds. 
 
 " September 25th, 1872. 
 " My dear Sir, — Allow mo to congratulate you on th« 
 great success of the Entertainments and Classes conducted 
 by you in connection with this Association, and also to ex-
 
 261 
 
 press my deep sense of satisfaction with your System of 
 Mnemonics. 
 
 " The question most frequently asked hy those un- 
 acquainted with the System is, * Can it be applied to the 
 practical affairs of daily life ? ' My invariable answer to 
 this question is, ' Just take lessons of Mr. Stokes, and put 
 it to the test.' This I can conscientiously do as I have 
 found it of service in every department of my own work 
 requiring the use of the Memory. I have found it useful 
 in remembering dates, figures, names, sermons, the con- 
 tents of books, and the outlines of addresses, such as I am 
 continually being called upon to deliver. This is not the 
 only favourable testimony borne to your System amongst 
 the pupils who had the privilege of your tuition. Of the 
 numerous body of Young Men and others who received in- 
 struction here, there are continually coming to me those 
 who testify that they have derived the greatest benefit. 
 One, who is in a large Warehouse, tells me that he is able to 
 remember the numbers and names of different qualities of 
 cloth with an accuracy that was impossible before he 
 acquired your System. Another gentleman in business 
 says that you have given him the power of acquiring and 
 remembering a variety of foreign names with the greatest 
 facility; and this is of the utmost value to him, as he is in 
 constant communication with various Continental Firms. 
 Others declare they now possess an amount of mind-power 
 they had previously thought it impossible to attain. I am 
 sure the votes of thanks you received at the conclusion of 
 every Entertainment and every Class you conducted in 
 Leeds, will sufficiently assure you that your efforts were 
 fully appreciated; so I will not add other testimonies of an 
 equally flattering nature which I am quite able to 
 supply. 
 
 " Wishing you all success in your future educational 
 labours, and with very kind regards, 
 
 " Believe me to remain, 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 "HENRY THORNE, 
 
 •* W. Stokes, Esq." «« Secretary.
 
 262 
 
 From Theodore Maxwell, Esq., B.A., M.B., Camb., 
 B. Sc, London ; F.C.S. ; House Physician, Adden- 
 hrooWs Hospital, Cambridge ; Late Lecturer on Che- 
 mistry and Physics, City of London College, etc. 
 " Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, 
 
 "Nov. 23rd, 1872. 
 •* Dear Mr. Stokes, — I have great pleasure in saying 
 that I derived considerable benefit from a course of three 
 lessons from you on Memory, which I took in 1868. 
 
 " I have found your suggestions, as well as your system 
 useful in Geology, Palaeontology, Chemistry, Mental 
 Philosophy, Anatomy, and Materia Medica. In the last 
 named subject my "Artificial Memory" has been useful 
 in practice as well as in Examinations. 
 
 *' I am sure that with a small amount of ingenuity the 
 System could be with advantage applied to many other 
 subjects. I have also proved its utiUty in speaking and 
 lecturing. * * Yours very truly, 
 
 •' THEODORE MAXWELL." 
 
 *• 97, Wigmore Street, 
 
 •♦ Cavendish Square, London, W. 
 
 " April 9th, 1873. 
 •' Dear Sir, — Having used your System of Mnemonics 
 constantly for about eight years, I can confidently add 
 my testimony to its advantages, 
 
 '< I have found it of great service to me in daily life, in 
 Btudy, and in teaching. I have invariably proposed that 
 the pupils under my care should take your lessons, and I 
 have seen most pleasing results. My pupils in their turn 
 have advocated your System very warmly, and I am happy 
 to say have proved to many its unquestionable utility. 
 I think all governesses and others, who really have the 
 progress of their pupils at heart, should avail themselves 
 of your instruction, and give you their warmest support. 
 •' With very best wishes for your success, 
 
 •' I remain, dear sir. Yours sincerely, 
 
 ♦• EMILY A. CLEAVER. 
 " Mr. William Stokes, 
 
 ♦♦ Teacher of Memory."
 
 263 
 
 •♦ 20, Bootham, York, 18/4, 1873. 
 •• My dear Mr. Stokes, — I have pleasure in testifying to 
 the great interest felt in your lessons on the Art of 
 Memory just delivered in the school — an interest not con- 
 fined to the thirty boys who attended them, but fully 
 shared by my colleagues and myself. I may acknowledge 
 that in anticipation I felt some hesitation in so far com- 
 mitting myself to the matter, as to sanction the applica- 
 tion by the boys to their parents for permission to take 
 the lessons; but I have to add the further confession 
 that I should now be glad if all the sixty had had the 
 opportunity of attending, instead of only half the school. 
 It is too early yet to speak of any definite results : very 
 possibly only a small proportion of your pupils here may 
 carry out the system to any large extent ; but I feel sure 
 that we shall all find the benefit of your very suggestive 
 and stimulating lessons, and that some, both of the boya 
 and teachers, will be materially helped in the acquisition 
 of specific matters of study. 
 
 *'l am, yours respectfully, 
 
 "FIELDEN THORP." 
 
 From G. V. Childb, B.A., LL.B., of the Inner Temple, 
 Esquire, Barrister-at-Law, Holder of the First Class 
 Certificate of Honour of the Council of Legal Educa- 
 tion, and of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 
 Chancellor's Gold Medallist for Legal Studies. 
 
 " May 5th, 1873. 
 " I have much pleasure in stating that in my opinion 
 Mr. Stokes's System of Memory is far superior to other 
 similiar systems, being capable of adaptation to every 
 branch of study ; and that I have frequently found it of 
 assistance in preparing for University and Public Ex- 
 aminations. 
 
 " CHRIS. V. CHILDE."
 
 264 
 
 From Mr. George Wingfield, Accountant. 
 " 17, EUiott Koad, North Brixton, S.W. 
 
 "June 10th, 1873. 
 " I took lessons of Mr. Stokes about twelve years ago, 
 and he speedily developed my Memory to such a degree 
 that I was able to take a leading part in his Public illus- 
 trations before large and critical audiences, I have had 
 frequent opportunities of seeing the beneficial effects d^ 
 Mr. Stokes's teaching upon others, and I believe it is im» 
 possible to give his System a fair trial without satisfactory 
 results. I have found it invaluable for business, study, 
 and education. Were it possible for me to part with this 
 System, which has become part of my nature, I would 
 not do so for a very considerable amount. I think the 
 Guinea I paid for instruction in it, was the best investment 
 I ever made. Some of Mr. Stokes's Memory Aids are 
 now being used in the instruction of my children, with 
 both pleasure and profit. 
 
 " GEO. WINGFIELD." 
 
 •• St. John's Wood Collegiate School, 
 *' Winchester House, 
 " Winchester Road, Eton Park, N.W. 
 
 "June 27th, 1873. 
 " Mr. Stokes lectured and taught in this School some 
 years ago, and again recently. His Mnemonical System 
 supplies extended means for applying the Natural laws of 
 Association and Suggestion and increases both the capa- 
 city and the tenacity of the Memory. 
 
 " Some of my pupils have given illustrations before 
 their friends of the power they have acquired under Mr. 
 Stokes' training, and have applied his System successfully 
 to examination work. 
 
 It is only fair to Mr. Stokes to add that while I have 
 encouraged the use of his System, our varied and compre- 
 hensive curriculum has not allowed us to do him full 
 justice. 
 
 ••FRED BERllIDGE, F.K.G.S., F.R.S., 
 
 " Head Master."
 
 265 
 
 *♦ Earls-wood House, Hackney, N. E. 
 " July 31st, 1873. 
 •*My dear Sir, — It affords me great pleasure to state 
 that your system of Mnemonics has been of great assist- 
 ance to me in my professional capacity ; and I trust that 
 many others may be induced to avail themselves of your 
 
 •* E. G. ALABONE, M.D., M.R.C.S.Eng., L.M.,F.S.A." 
 ♦'W. Stokes, Esq." 
 
 •• My dear Sir, — I have very great pleasure in giving my 
 nnqualified testimony in favour of your System of Memory. 
 
 " I took Lessons of you about five years ago, and in pre- 
 paring for Nautical Examinations, etc., I have found 
 your suggestions most helpful. For thought-splicing, 
 your System cannot be excelled. 
 
 I am, I believe, the youngest Ship Master in the Mer- 
 chant Service, having been appointed immediately after I 
 was 21 years of age — 21 years being the earliest time al- 
 lowed by the Board of Trade ; and I gladly acknowledge 
 the assistance I derived from your tuition. I consider it 
 saved me two years' work, or rather enabled me to do the 
 work in two years' less time than I otherwise should hava 
 
 "JOSEPH W. PORTOR, 
 "Barque, ' Gnat,' Hull, 
 " August 12th, 1873." 
 ♦♦W. Stokes, Esq., 
 •' Royal Polytechnie Institution, London, 
 
 From Men of The Time, 
 nth Edition, 1884. 
 '* The soundness of Mr. Stokes's Theory of Memory, 
 the simplicity and effectiveness of his Memory Aids, his 
 singular gift of teaching, and his untiring energy and 
 perseverance, have rendered him the most eminent Pio- 
 I'essor of Memory of the age." 
 
 z
 
 266 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS FROM 
 CORRESPONDENCE PUPILS. 
 
 In addition to the numerous Testimonials which have 
 been kindly sent to Mr. Stokes by his Correspondence 
 Pupils, he has a great many private letters showing the 
 progress of the writers, and expressive of their satisfaction. 
 The following are a few extracts. 
 
 " Dear Sir, — The first Lesson came safely to hand, yes- 
 terday, by return of post. I have mastered it thoroughly, 
 and shall be obligedif you will send me the second Lesson." 
 
 " Thanks for the second Lesson. I have learned all 
 you requested, and have applied the System independently 
 with considerable success." 
 
 " I have gone carefully over your instructions in the 
 third Lesson, and am very pleased with the System. I do 
 not think I shall experience any difficulty in carrying out 
 your suggestions, but will avail myself of your kind offer 
 of assistauae, should I require it." 
 
 " I have not met with anything in the Lessons to puz- 
 zle me yet." 
 
 *' I am obliged for your special explanations in reply 
 to my questions. I quite understand now, but must 
 confess that till your letter came I felt in an impenetrable 
 fog." 
 
 " Thanks for your kind inquiry as to my progress. I 
 have been away from home, and since my return have 
 been very busy, ew have not yet learned all you sent me •
 
 267 
 
 but I anderstand thi System so far, and have fonnd it 
 useful many times. I will try to resume my study of 
 your papers as soon as possible, and will let you know 
 when I am ready for more." 
 
 •' I have learned the papers, and shall be glad to have 
 Bome more." 
 
 " I have succeeded in getting through all your exercises 
 thoroughly, and have enjoyed them very much." 
 
 " The lessons have been a source of amusement and 
 pleasure far beyond my expectations." 
 
 " I found your System of great use at my recent exami- 
 nation." 
 
 ** I can report a sermon from Memory capitally by carry- 
 ing out your suggestions." 
 
 " I remember what I read very much better now than 
 before I took your Lessons." 
 
 ** I can remember names by your System very easily." 
 
 *' I have not told my friends I have been taking your 
 Lessons, and they are astonished at the change in my 
 Memory." 
 
 " I had to take the chair at a Public Meeting last week, 
 and found your suggestions very useful." 
 
 z 2
 
 268 
 
 •* I have learned several hundred dates by your Mne- 
 monics already, and I feel sure I could master any reason- 
 able number without further assistance." 
 
 1 
 
 " Lady things Mr. Stokes's Lessons are not only 
 
 beneficial to the Memory, but very interesting." 
 
 " Captain has already found Mr. Stokes's sugges- 
 tions of service in his Military studies, and will be glad to 
 receive whatever Mr. Stokes may wish to send next." 
 
 ** The Kev. is greatly obliged to Mr. Stokes, for 
 
 the assistance afforded him in extemporaneous preaching 
 and impromptu speaking." 
 
 " Miss will thank Mr. Stokes to forward her an- 
 other Memory Lesson, she learned the last one very easily, 
 and thinks the System becomes more and more interesting 
 as she progresses." 
 
 " You are quite right. I should hardly have thought 
 you would have discovered the fact you name fix>m seeing 
 ray photograph. I hesitated in sending to you at first, as 
 I thought it would be a great disadvantage not to be able 
 to see you ; but you appear to understand me as thoroughly 
 as can be wished." 
 
 " I enclose you some practical applications that I have 
 made of your System. I have found them help me very 
 much."
 
 269 
 
 " I am greatly obliged to you for dividing the Lessong 
 BO as not to give me more at a time than I could manage 
 with my poor brain, and I am thankful for the vigour you 
 have imparted to my Memory." 
 
 " I fear I have been a very slow and patience-taxing 
 pupil but as you have succeeded with vie, I think you 
 may rely upon succeeding with anyhodyy 
 
 *' A.S I had suffered severely from fever, I thought you 
 might find mine an exceptional case, and fail with me ; 
 but I can remember better now than I could at any other 
 period of my life." 
 
 " I thought that India had taken all my brain power 
 out of me ; but you have evidently found some left, and 
 have enabled me to use it." 
 
 " I did not take proper care of myself, and my Memory 
 lost its power. Your lessons have done me real good, and 
 I shall always feel grateful to you." 
 
 " Before I took your Lessons my Memory was so bad 
 that I should have been sorry for anybody to have known 
 my pitiable condition ; but I can remember well now, and 
 my mind seems to have fresh vigour." 
 
 " A gentleman dissuaded me from learning your System 
 for a long time, and he laughed at all Mnemonics. After 
 having had the benefit of your Lessons, I feel a certain 
 amount of contempt or dislike for him, hia advice having 
 been greatly to my disadvantage." 
 
 z 3
 
 270 
 
 *' My brother and I are ready for some more papers. 
 His Memory is naturally very good, while mine is quite 
 the reverse, as we told you ; but we are both astonishing 
 our friends with our Mnemonic performances, I am happy 
 to say." 
 
 " Deab Mr. Stokes, — I see from an advertisement that 
 you are to be in this town during next week. The 
 Lessons you gave me by Correspondence, three years ago, 
 have been very useful to me, and I think I know your 
 System very well ; but as you were good enough to say in 
 one of your letters that I could attend any of your pubUe 
 Classes that might be convenient to me, without further 
 payment, I shall avail myself of this opportunity of test- 
 ing my proficiency and seeing if I can get any fresh ideas. 
 I hope your Classes will be well attended," 
 
 *' I hope to be in London on Thursday next, and if 
 possible shall call to see you and add more fully my 
 thanks for your attention, and shall go to the Polytechnic 
 to hear your Lecture and to see your *' Wonderful Boys." 
 I think I could assist, if you wanted an " Old Boy " as an 
 illustrator. I really feel surprised that at my age — not far 
 from three-score years and ten — ^you should so have im- 
 proved my Memory." 
 
 " Paris. 
 *' Probably you have wondered why I did not write to 
 you ; and you will no doubt be surprised to see I am in 
 Paris. I left England unexpectedly with some friends, 
 and have not had much time to devote to ' Memory,' but 
 at length have done all you wished. If you will send me 
 another Lesson within a week from now, to this address, 
 I will study it while travelling in France and Germany, 
 and when ready, will send you another address, for more 
 papers."
 
 271 
 
 "Australia. 
 " Be sure you send by return mail, please, as we are 
 looking anxiously forward to the pleasure of receiving the 
 next Lesson." 
 
 "New York. 
 " You have certainly done my Memory great good. If 
 ever you decide to come to America, be sure you let me 
 know. I shall be glad to see you; and I shall post my 
 friends well up in the fact that you intend to take the 
 ferry over." 
 
 " Please send me some more papers. The children as 
 well as myself have learned the last you forwarded; and 
 they are applying your System to their ordinary lessons." 
 
 " Your Lessons have certainly been useful to my elder 
 sons. Please send me the books marked on the enclosed 
 list of your works, for the use of the younger children." 
 
 " The members of the Class desire me to thank you for 
 your kindness in giving special suggestions to suit their 
 varied defects and requirements." 
 
 •* I hardly know how to thank you enough for the goo3 
 your Lessons have done me." 
 
 " "We are sorry you cannot accept our invitation : we 
 should really be delighted if you could spend a few days 
 mth U3 — we should like to see our teacher."
 
 272 
 
 " Dear Mb. Stokes, — I am much obliged to you for the 
 care you have besto-sved upon me in giving me my Lessons. 
 I feel much indebted to you lor your key, and I beg you will 
 accept a key from me. I send it you by rail — a tur-key ! " 
 
 *^* The gentleman who sent this turkey also sent a 
 salmon some time afterwards. 
 
 ** I am really much obliged for the pains you have taken 
 
 with me. My friend, whose name and address I enclose, 
 is so surprised at my improvement that he wishes to take 
 Lessons. I enclose you his fee — Post Office Order payable 
 at Vere Street. If you will forward his papers I will 
 assist him, and you may rely upon my always doing my 
 best to get you pupils." 
 
 Several Correspondence Pupils have introduced Mr. 
 Stokes to the towns in which they reside, to teach their 
 relations and friends. Mr. Carlson, a Swedish gentleman 
 who took Correspondence Lessons in Liverpool, assisted 
 in arranging for Mr. Stokes to go there, and before 
 receiving further instructions gave very remarkable illus- 
 trations of Memory in public. He stated at one of Mr. 
 Stokes's demonstrations at the Royal Institution, Liver- 
 pool, that he had found the System invaluable in acquir- 
 ing the English language, and in numerous practical 
 matters. 
 
 Brighton Grand Aquarium. 
 Mr. Stokes lectures on Memory, with Illustrations by 
 Pupils, at the Aquarium, and gives Lessons in Brighton 
 by appointment.
 
 273 
 
 "STOKES ON MEMORY/ 
 
 QUOTATIONS FROM REVIEWS. 
 
 The Reader. 
 •' The enlargement and illustration of the present 
 edition is a decided improvement on the former issues ; 
 its price is not increased, and the matter it contains is 
 not merely useful and interesting, but invaluable. We 
 strenuously recommend our readers to peruse it." 
 
 The Atlas. 
 " The book is a mine rich in information on the method 
 of strengthening the natural Memory, and of acquiring an 
 artificial one." 
 
 The Weekly Advertiser. 
 '* The work, in a most unmistakable manner, shows the 
 fact that however good we may esteem our Memory on 
 the one hand, or however deficient we may consider it on 
 the other, the System advocated will strengthen the one, 
 and completely rectify the other." 
 
 The Sun. 
 " The author of this little work has done much to- 
 wards upsetting all our preconceived theories upon this 
 head." 
 
 Builder's Weekly Reporter. 
 •' Mr. Stokes appears to us to have achieved, in a most 
 efficient manner, the most difiQcult of all tasks, that of 
 expanding the Memory."
 
 274 
 
 Scientific Opinion. 
 *• We recommend * Stokes on Memory.* " 
 
 The Church Eeview. 
 *' The cheapness of the book places it within reach of 
 all, and we have no doubt that it will ere long be 
 abundantly popular with clergymen who are desirous of 
 preaching extempore." 
 
 The Pkess. 
 " The efifects Mr. Stokes produces upon impaired, dor- 
 mant, and flighty Memories, so to speak, are immediate, 
 easy of acquisition, and permanent in retention. We 
 advise a perusal of these pages, and attention to Mr. 
 Stokes's lectures." 
 
 The St. James's Chronicle. 
 " Of vital importance in an educational point of view." 
 
 The Court Circular. 
 ♦* Its pages are void of that listlessness and dryness 
 which might be supposed to characterize such a work ; 
 but on the other hand, it is instructive while pleasing, 
 highly valuable while equally entertaining. This book 
 must prove a boon in the hands of all who are desirous to 
 invigorate or aid their natural Memory by a well-developed 
 System." 
 
 Public Opinion. 
 " The work, though small in size, is replete with 
 practical information to every class of the community. 
 We have carefully perused it, and we have pleasure in 
 commending ' Stokes on Memory ' to the earnest con- 
 sideration of all."
 
 275 
 
 Quotations from an interesting and valuable ArticU 
 on Artificial Memory in the Dublin Eeview, July, 
 1877, fro7n pages 172 to 190 inclusive. 
 
 " What in short is wanted, and what is really attain- 
 able, is to train the Memory upon a plan according to 
 its laws, to subject it to an art. 
 
 "In the present day one of the laost successful 
 teachers of the Mnemonical Art is 'Mi. WiUiam Stokes, 
 who has published several works on the subject, the 
 title of one of which is given at the head of the present 
 article — ' Stokes on Memory.' 
 
 "Let us, before entering further on the subject, say 
 that Mr. Stokes has the support of many excellent 
 witnesses to the value of his System. We cannot but 
 speak with respect of what has given satisfaction to 
 judges like Sir Stafford Northcote, Professor EawUnson, 
 and the late Professor Donkin. The present writer has 
 not, indeed, had the means of personal observation ; 
 but the expression used to him by a witness on whom 
 he could rely, as to the performances of some of Mr. 
 Stokes's pupils, was, ' that it seemed to him as if they 
 could do anything.' All Memory is in reality natural. 
 It is not by any other Memory than that which God 
 gave us that we remember any of the instruments 
 suggested by the various Mnemonical writers. 
 
 " A very simple rule is given by Mr. Stokes as the 
 foundation of the System : — ' Observe, reflect, link 
 thought with thought, and think of the impressions.^ A 
 superficial student may be apt to think he has gained 
 Httle by having a rule hke this imparted as a discovery. 
 But its utility can only be found out by putting it to 
 practice. Until that is done, the words really convey 
 httle meaning, any more than the maxims of worldly 
 wisdom, which are the result of the large experience of 
 a man of fifty, can do if stated to a mere youth who 
 has not yet been able to test them by experience. It 
 must always be fully borne in mind that in this as in 
 any other art, of which the general principles have 
 been once suggested, the real originality or genius oi
 
 276 
 
 the teacher is shown in his method of imparting it, 
 which cannot be conveyed in a mere treatise. All the 
 foregoing observations will certainly show that we are 
 not disposed to undervalue the faculty of Memory, 
 Bather, with ^schylus, we are ready to call it ' the very 
 mother of the Muses, and the universal instrument.' 
 There is a sense in which it is perfectly true to say that 
 Memory is the most important faculty in education. 
 Let the Memory have all the help we can give it, to 
 make it vigorous, efficient, prompt, and justly confident 
 in itself. In order to such a result, Mr. Stokes's 
 method will afford some very valuable suggestions, as 
 much for the improvement of the natural Memory as in 
 supplying a very powerful artificial instrument. There 
 is much truth in the contrast as drawn between re- 
 petition (the only Art of Memory, if we may call it so, 
 known to many teachers little qualified for their office) and 
 the more rapid means of association. It would be well 
 if educators would consider how far the general instru- 
 ments of all learning can be rendered more efficacious, 
 and thus effect that saving of time which is more and 
 more necessary in proportion to the vast accumulation 
 of human knowledge which threatens to overwhelm us." 
 
 The brief extracts here given do not do justice to the 
 elaborate Article extending over nineteen pages, but 
 they are sufficient to show that " Stokes on Memorj'f 
 which is extensively quoted, is appreciated by the 
 Writer, and that he is an able advocate of the Mnemonic 
 Art. He does not profess to go wholly with me in all 
 my views, but he is none the less worthy of esteem on 
 that account. My pupils, who are expert in applying 
 my suggestions for " learning by heart," wiU see at 
 once that he has a few groundless doubts, and 
 occasionally deals with imaginary difficulties, but there 
 is often a tendency in the human mind to underrate 
 that which is but partly comprehended. 
 
 Some extraordinary achievements in the way of verbal 
 Memory have resulted from my teaching, and there are 
 many whose calHng in life renders the possession of 
 this power an immense advantage.
 
 277 
 
 TESTIMONIALS. 
 
 " Hill of Eaton, Near Ross, Herefordshire. 
 " October 30th, 1882. 
 
 " Dear Mr. Stokes. — Your lessens in Mnemonics 
 have greatly strengthened my Memory, and haye increased 
 my desire for learning. 
 
 " My Memory for facts, figures, reading, recitation, and 
 Music, is wonderfully good, compared with its former 
 condition ; and in spite of a busy life, I have in scraps of 
 time, accomplished some Mnemonic work, which I sin- 
 cerely trust will assist in making the adoption of your easy 
 and invaluable System of Memory much more general; 
 for your teaching, whether personal or by post, gives the 
 obedient learner a kind of new intellectual faculty. 
 
 " By carrying out your instructions I can play pieces 
 of Musical composition entirely from Memory, upon the 
 Harp, and upon the Pianoforte ; and by exercising my 
 Natural Memory in the way you directed, coupled with 
 the use of your Mnemonical Key, I have learned the 
 whole of the Revelation of St. John the Divine, can quote 
 any verse of any chapter, and can make a comparative 
 analysis of different portions, naming similarities or 
 differences of expression, and pointing out the " Seven 
 Sevens," and can also give from Memory all the headings 
 and divisions of the Chapters. 
 
 Having had the pleasure of giving illustrations in 
 Artificial Memory and Classification, in July, 1881, before 
 Sir Erasmus Wilson, F.R.S., LL.D ; then President of 
 the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and to whom 
 we are so much indebted for Cleopatra's Needle, on the 
 Thames Embankment, at his suggestion, on receipt of a 
 present from him of his interesting work entitled " The 
 Egypt of the Past," I tried my skill in " Stokesing" the 
 one hundred and nineteen Egyptian Hieroglyphs con- 
 tained in it, and by adaptations of your Mnemonic 
 principles, can retain in my mind's eye the varied forms 
 
 A A
 
 278 
 
 of the Hieroglyphs, their meaningg, nameg, numbers, 
 and other details inseparably Unked with them. 
 
 " It has been my privilege to receive a certificate re- 
 specting this matter from Sir Erasmus Wilson, with 
 permission for you to publish it, and I enclose you a 
 copy bearing his signature. 
 
 '* I am, yours very gratefully, 
 " BESSIE JONES." 
 
 " The Bungalow, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent. 
 *' October 24tb, 1882. 
 
 " This is to certify that Miss Bessie Jones, Eill of 
 Eaton, Near Ross, Herefordshire, has obtained great 
 proficiency in the use of Mr. Stokes's System of Memory 
 and Mnemonics, for many years taught by him at the 
 Royal Polytechnic Institution, London. 
 
 •' She has, with Mr. Stokes's permission, submitted to 
 me a classified scheme which is well calculated to facilitate 
 the study of Egyptian Hieroglyphs, and she can prac- 
 tically illustrate its reliability. 
 
 " Mr. Stokes's System is equally adapted to other 
 branches of intellectual pursuit and scientific research ; 
 and it is doubtless a mont useful help to Education in 
 general. "ERASMUS WILSON." 
 
 From Rest W. Flint, Esq., Solicitor, Toicn Clerk, etc., 
 Canterbury. 
 " 9, St. George's Place, Canterbury, 
 «' 3rd December, 1883. 
 "Dear Sib,— About twenty-two years ago I took a 
 course of Three Lessons of you in your System of 
 Memory, and found your Mnemonics very useful in pre- 
 paring for my Legal Examination, which I successfully 
 passed ; and the general principles of your System I have 
 subsequently employed in my multifarious professional 
 duties with great advantage. 
 
 "Yours trulv, 
 "William Stokes, Esq." ♦' REST W. FLINT."
 
 279 
 
 Letter No. 1. 
 
 CRITICISM OF WRITING, 
 
 With Memory-Aiding Suggestions for its 
 Improvement. 
 
 " Let me see the writing." 
 
 Sh'ihespeare. Richard II. Act v. Scene 2. 
 
 This letter may be copied or cut out by those who 
 ■wish to use it, or altered as required. 
 
 Address in full, 
 Date. 
 
 " Dear Sir, — I enclose you a Post Office Order for Ten 
 Shillings and Six Pence, payable to you at Yere Street, 
 London, W., for which please let me have a Criticism of 
 my Writing, with Memory-aiding suggestions for its im- 
 provement, at your earliest convenience. 
 
 *' I send you a specimen of my ordinary writing. 
 »« Yours faithfully," 
 Name in full. 
 
 «« To Mr. William Stokes, 
 
 "15, Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, 
 " London, W." 
 
 A A 2
 
 280 
 
 Letter No. 2. 
 
 COURSE OF THREE MEMORY- AIDING WRITING 
 LESSONS BY CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 This letter may be copied or cut out by those who 
 wish to use it, or altered as required. 
 
 Address in full, 
 Date, 
 
 '• Dear Sir, — I enclose you a Post Office Order for 
 one guinea (£1 Is. Od.) payable to you at Vere Street, 
 London, W., for which please let me have a course of 
 Three Memory-Aiding Writing Lessons by Correspondence. 
 
 •• I send you a specimen of my ordinary writing. 
 " Yours faithfully," 
 
 Name in full, 
 
 " To Mr. William Stokes, 
 
 •'15, Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, 
 " London, W."
 
 281 
 
 Letter No. 3. 
 
 FULL COURSE OF EIGHT MEMORY-ATDING 
 WRITING LESSONS BY CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 This letter may be copied or cut out by those who 
 wish to use it, or altered as required. 
 
 Address in full, 
 Date. 
 
 " Dear Sib, — I enclose you a Post OjBfice Order for 
 Two Guineas (£2 2s. Od.), payable to you at Yere Street, 
 London, W., for which please let me have a course of 
 Eight Memory- Aiding Writing Lessons by Correspondence. 
 
 " I have neither the time nor the inclination to copy 
 lengthy writing Exercises, and I do not wish to write 
 like copper plate ; but I shall be glad to receive from you 
 assistance which will enable me to increase my ease and 
 speed in my ordinary writing, improve its style, and 
 render it so clear that it may be read by strangers without 
 the slightest difficulty. 
 
 " I send you a specimen of my ordinary writing. 
 " Yours faithfully,'* 
 Name in full. 
 
 " To Mr. William Stokes, 
 
 *' 15, Margaret Street, Cavendish Square. 
 " London, W." 
 
 AA 3
 
 282 
 STOKES'S 
 
 MEMORY-AIDIHG WRITING LESSOKS, ETC., 
 
 FOR RAPID PROGRESS. 
 
 TEEMS. 
 
 ORAL LESSONS. 
 
 & s. d. 
 Oral Criticism of "Writing, with Memory-Aiding 
 suggestions for its improvement. Twenty 
 
 Minutes 10 6 
 
 One Oral Memory-Aiding Writing Lesson. 
 
 Forty-five minutes 110 
 
 Two Oral Memory-Aiding Writing Lessons. 
 
 One hour each 2 2 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE LESSONS. 
 
 Correspondence Criticism of Writing, with 
 Memory-Aiding suggestions for its im- 
 provement 10 6 
 
 Three Correspondence Memory-Aiding Writing 
 
 Lessons 110 
 
 Eight Correspondence Memory-Aiding Writing 
 
 Lessons 2 2 
 
 PENS. 
 
 Box of choice Pens, for heavy, fine, and rapid writing, 
 Qd. ; by post, seven stamps, or with Holders, Fountain 
 Pen, etc., Is., by post, 14 stamps. 
 
 INK. 
 Pompeian Blue Ink, very beautiful colour, and non- 
 corrosive, in bottles sixpence and one shilling each. 
 Carefully packed, by Parcel Post, one shilling, and one 
 shilling and sixpence each. 
 
 Stokes's Rapid Writing, Is., by post, 14 stamps. 
 
 Stokes's Ode to the Pen, with continuous alphabet 
 and rapid writing Mnemonic, 3d., by post, Bid.
 
 283 
 
 Reduced facsimile of Mr. Stokes's Certificate for Memory- 
 Aiding Works, &c., in International Exhibition, 1871, with 
 autogi-aph of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Size ol 
 Certificate, 13| X 10| mches.
 
 284 
 LIST OF WORKS, ETC., BY WILLIAM STOKES. 
 
 Just Published, Seventy-Binth Edition, with Engravings 
 and Addenda, much enlarged, with many new Mne- 
 monics, etc., price One Shilling; post free, 14 stamps; 
 stiff cloth, with Portrait of the Author : — 
 Stokes on Memory. Explaining clearly the Nature of 
 Memory, Science of Memory, How to Improve the 
 Memory, Stokes's System of Memory, etc., etc. 
 The Divine Origin of Mnemonics. Second Edition, 
 with Engravings of Mnemonical Apphances 
 appointed by God to be worn by the Israelites. 1«. ; 
 by post, 14 stamps. 
 Life of Christ, with Memory Pictures, with Ono 
 Hundred Original Drawings by William Brough- 
 Illustrating, in Mnemonic Groups, Mimpriss'a 
 " One Hundred Graduated Lessons," developing in 
 the order of time, according to Greswell, a con- 
 tinuous History of our Lord's Life and Ministry, 
 harmonized from the Four Evangelists. The Mne- 
 monic plan is very simple, and the hundred Litho- 
 graphs are remarkably minute in detail. Invaluable 
 for Ministers, Sunday-school Teachers, Parents, and 
 others. Is. ; by post, 14 stamps. 
 Stokes's Syllable-ized, Pictorial Alphabet, lo. ; by 
 post, 14 stamps. Eighth Edition. Beautiful Work 
 of Art for rapidly teaching children their Letters. 
 Graciously inspected by Her Majesty the Queen, 
 their Eoyal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of 
 Wales, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Napoleon 
 III. Exhibited in the South Kensington Museum, 
 etc., etc., etc. Price : the book with handsome bind- 
 ing, containing twenty-six splendid Engravings, 
 with Coloured Letters, 5s.; tinted paper, 2s. 6d.\ 
 People's Edition, Is. To be had of all Booksellers, 
 and of Mr. Stokes, post-free for 62, 32, or 14 stamps, 
 Mouated on Canvas. 21$. ; sheets, 2s. 6<2., 32 stamoft.
 
 285 
 
 Btolces's Kapid Heading, Fourth Edition. For 
 rapidly teaching to read, and for teaching to read 
 rapidly. Contains a surprisingly easy plan of 
 Teaching Reading without Spelling, by which a 
 child may be taught to read thousands of sentences 
 in a few hours; also Stokes's Anti-Nonsensical 
 Nursery Rhymes, in words of One Syllable ; and 
 valuable aids for Reading with Ease, Accuracy, 
 Effect, and Rapidity. Is. ; by post, 14 stamps. 
 
 Stokes's Hapid "Writing. Twenty-first Edition. An 
 invaluable book for rapidly teaching to write, and 
 for teaching to write rapidly; with innumerable 
 Illustrations by eminent Penmen, and many novel 
 memory-aids for writing. Amusing reading; an 
 elegant and useful present. Admirably suited for 
 home teaching, schools, candidates for the Civil 
 Service, literary men, men of business, ladies, and 
 the general public. Is. ; by post, 14 stamps. 
 
 Stokes's Bapid Arithmetic. Contains some of the 
 simplest, shortest, quickest, and best methods of 
 written and mental Arithmetic ; with rules, reasons, 
 memory aids, and illustrations, conveyed in a 
 manner never before attempted. Adapted for the 
 nursery, school, college, study, shop, counting 
 house, and for ladies. Is.; by post, 14 stamps. 
 
 Stokes's Kapid Drawing. For rapidly teaching to 
 draw, and for teaching to draw rapidly. An easy 
 and agreeable memory-aiding guide to draughts- 
 manship, pictorial effect, perspective, and fine art 
 criticism and enjoyment. Is. ; by post 14 stamps. 
 
 Stokes's Kapid Music, Part I. Ninth Edition. A 
 Complete Pianoforte Tutor, with easy Aids to 
 Memory, Diagrams, Engravings, etc. Is. ; by post, 
 14 stamps. 
 
 Stokes's Kapid Music. Part II. Treats of Harmony, 
 Thorough Bass, How to play without Notes, etc. 
 With easy Aids to Memory. Is. ; by post, 14 
 stamps.
 
 28(5 
 
 Stokes's Memory- Aiding Music Staff. Fifth Edition. 
 Teaches Treble, Bass, and Ledger Lines and Spaces 
 ALMOST INSTANTLY. Is. ; by post, 14 stamps. 
 
 Stokes's Memory- Aiding Music Scales, teaching the 
 Major and Minor Scales in less than ten minutes. 
 Is.; by post, 14 stamps. 
 
 Stokes's Memory -Aiding Pocket Key-Board, Seven 
 Octaves, Pianoforte Size, with Instructions for end- 
 less silent Exercises for Pianoforte, Organ, and 
 Harmonium. Is. ; by post, 14 stamps. Of all 
 Booksellers and Music-sellers. 
 
 Stokes's Pictorial Multiplication Table. Eleventh 
 Edition. By which a child may learn the whole ol 
 the Table in less than Half an Hour. In book, 
 explained in English, French, and German, Is. ; 
 by post, 14 stamps ; Sheet, in case, with Book of 
 Instructions, Is. ; by post, 14 stamps ; Mounted, 
 5s. ; by Bail, 5s. 6d. Coloured, 7s. 6d. ; by Kail, 
 8s. In Colours, on Canvas, 6ft. X3 ft., with Boilers, 
 etc., and Instructions, One Guinea; by Bail, 22s. 
 Small companion copies for schools, Id.; by post, 
 Hd. 
 
 Stokes's Memory-Aiding Extended Multiplication 
 Table. By which the Table is known by Bule, 
 instead of by repetition. Invaluable for schools, 
 accountants, and others, Gd. ; by post, Q^d. 
 
 Stokes's Historical Chronometer. Second Edition. 
 A simple and pleasing invention for the re- 
 membrance of Facts and Dates. Is. ; by post, 14 
 stamps. 
 The use of this method confers a clearness of per- 
 ception respecting the chronological order of facts which 
 it is impossible to obtain by the ordinary non-pictorial 
 representation of time. 
 
 Stokes's Capital Mnemonical Globe. Twentieth 
 Thousand. 24 inches in circumference, copper- 
 plate, coloured ; with Book of Instructions. In Case
 
 287 
 
 complete, Is. ; sent to any address for 14 stampa. 
 
 By means of this wonderful Globe the relative 
 positions of the principal places in the World may 
 be learned as an amusement in a few hours. Var- 
 nished and Extra Finished, with Superior Case, 
 2s. 6d. ; by post, 32 stamps. An attractive Coloured 
 Card representing the Globe, Id. ; by post, l^d. 
 
 Stokes's Memory Aids for England and "Wales. A 
 Mnemonic Scrap, by which the relative position of 
 the Counties, etc., may be learned with ease, and 
 retained with pleasure by the mind's eye. With ele- 
 gant coloured Map, adapted for the nursery, the 
 schoolroom, the study, and the pocket, 6d. ; by 
 post, Q^d. 
 
 Stokes's Memory Aid for Astronomy. A Mnemonic 
 Scrap. An easy clue to the Constellations, en- 
 couraging an intelligent and delightful observation 
 of the heavens, 6d. : by post, 6^^. 
 
 Stokes's Pocket Memoriser. Almanack, Engagement, 
 and Keminder Sheet, Miniature Diary, Letter En- 
 velope, Post Card and Kailway Ticket Case, etc., in 
 combination, showing an outline of the year at a 
 glance. Extra strong, linen-lined, gilt-lettered, 
 with ivory-topped pencil, complete, Is. Unmounted- 
 sheet, Id. ; by post, l^d. 
 
 Stokes's Memory Aids for Elocution; a Mnemonic 
 Scrap. The Elocutionary Art is here represented 
 in a condensed and rememberable form ; and the 
 instructions are likely to be of service to all who 
 wish for clear enunciation and good delivery. 6d. ; 
 by post, Q^d. 
 
 The French Genders in Five Minutes. A Mnemonic 
 Scrap. One of the simplest, shortest, and mosi 
 comprehensive Mem(*ry-Aids ever given, saving an 
 immense amount of time and labour in the acquire- 
 ment of the French Language. M. ; by post, 6id.
 
 288 
 
 The Q-erman Genders Simplified. A Mnemonic Scrap. 
 
 Some remarkable and apparently insuperable diffi- 
 culties are in this overcome by a simple and 
 amusing contrivance, and constant and ineffective 
 repetition and protracted perplexity give place to 
 immediate certainty and satisfaction. Qd. ; by 
 post, Q^d. 
 
 Stokes's Ode to the Pen. Sd. ; by post, 3^d. 
 
 Stokes's M-Made Memory Medley. Kemarkable 
 piece of Alliterative Composition. Id. ; by post, l^d. 
 
 Meaning of Male and Female Christian Names, 
 
 with the languages from which they are derived. 
 Given as a Feat of Memory at Mr. Stokes's Demon- 
 strations. Interesting to all, and a valuable guide 
 to the selection of a suitable name. Id. ; by post, 
 l^d. 
 
 Stokes's Memory Perplexing Patter Song. Mr. 
 Stokes offers a Prize of Five Guineas to anybody 
 who, without the use of any system of memory, can 
 learn this patter song, and repeat it like his pupils. 
 Id. ; by post, l^d. 
 
 The Mnemonical Time Economiser, on card foi 
 Business Offices, etc. 2d. ; by post, Sd. 
 
 The Typogram : a Novel Method of Rapid Corre- 
 spondence. 50, Is. ; by post, 14 stamps. 
 
 Song — "Memory, Sweet Visions of the Past." 
 
 Words by Mr. Stokes. Music by Frances Blumhart. 
 By post for 19 stamps. 
 
 May be had of the author, 15, Margaret Street, 
 Cavendish Square, London, W. 
 
 ACTIVE AGENTS WANTED EVERYWHER3. 
 
 ^
 
 B 000 002 200 4